Page 27

T he dream is different this time. It doesn’t feel terrifying like the last time, but it is the same.

Not a normal dream—something that feels like so much more.

I can’t seem to control my body as I stir a spoon around a pot of boiling hot soup.

I can even smell the rosemary and chicken, the carrots and potatoes in it.

I can feel the warmth on my face, but as I lift my head, I see my reflection in the glass.

I’m younger than I thought. I must be about eight or maybe seven.

No, I’m seven. My hair is down in thick locks, just as untameable as it is now.

This is a memory—but I’ve never seen it. “There you are.”

I turn to see Black coming into the kitchen of a house I don’t recognize at all.

It isn’t the home I grew up in. This kitchen is more like a cottage, with its high beams and brick walls.

Black shakes his head like a dog, and he flashes me a boyish grin.

Because he is a boy. Black must only be about twelve, and it’s startling to see him this young. “Come outside?”

I roll my eyes. “You know I can’t. Your aunt will be mad if I leave the pot alone.” The boy’s aunt is a good woman but strict and scary.

“She won’t. She loves you.” Black winks. “And I’ll sweet-talk her.”

Sweet-talking our parents is a thing that only Maz is good at, and he knows it.

My mama says he can charm even a mouse, and I don’t think she is wrong.

Like it’s normal, like we have done it a million times, he comes over and slides his damp hand into mine.

He leads me out, talking about how good dinner smells, but all I can focus on is him touching me.

Even now, even as a kid, he knew he could touch me.

How could he forget that? How is it possible?

His eyes are so bright and alive, and I have never seen him like this, even for a heartbeat.

“Come on, it’s raining.” For some reason, that makes me happy as he pulls me with him, and we go outside without our coats. The rain is heavy and thick, but Black laughs, stealing all my attention again. “It’s a storm. How brilliant.”

“You’re the only person who likes the rain, Black!

” I laugh. I look up, seeing Maz, Kane and Vale sitting in the window, their legs hanging out as they watch.

I don’t like Vale, but he is one of them and I have to put up with him.

Black just laughs more, and he pulls me to him to begin dancing, of all things, his hand clasped in mine.

We both laugh as he dances around in the pouring rain.

“I could dance in the rain with you forever!” I shout over the storm.

“Well, you will. Because we will be bonded,” Black shouts back. He sounds like that is what he wants…but the future-Black does not.

“Yes, we will,” I say with certainty. I’m so confused as he continues to dance around with me, spinning me to music I can’t hear. I doubt he can either. I feel nothing but happiness—home. Dancing with Black feels like home.

I sit up in bed, still feeling rain on my arms, but when I touch them, they are dry.

What was that? It felt like a memory, but it wasn’t.

It couldn’t be. Black comes through the door with a tray in his hands.

“I wanted to get you breakfast,” he claims. No one has gotten me breakfast before.

In fact, no one has made meals just for me.

Our mortal housekeeper wasn’t allowed to feed me meals.

My foster mother used to let me eat the scraps of the meals she had bought from a cook in the town.

I always wondered why she bothered when our housekeeper made her three meals a day but someone told me she was sleeping with the cook.

“It’s Sunday so we just have training for the morning. I’ll shower and we can head down.”

What? I stare at him for a long moment. “Thank you for the food…but why?” I frown. “You have all acted like bonding was the worst thing to ever happen to you, and now you’re acting like we are close friends.”

Black leans against the bedpost. “I didn’t want to bond because of what it means for us…not because of you.”

I tilt my head to the side. “What does it mean?”

“Witches have their own seers…and so do the shifters. Our bonding is predicted, and I wanted to avoid the rest.” He sighs.

“But then I saw you and, fuck it, I lost interest in caring what the seers warned…only that I want to know you. I landed on the bloodstone for a reason, not an accident, Juniper. You want the truth? I’m here.

I stayed away because I do that with everyone in case they accidentally touch my skin.

I didn’t want to hurt you, and now that I know I can’t, nothing is going to keep me from you. You are mine.”

My face feels warm. “Okay. I always wanted to be friends with my bonded.” He seems to tense at the word friend . “Hey, have we ever danced in the rain?”

He looks at me with a frown on his face.

“Not in reality. I dream sometimes that we danced together as kids, but it’s not real.

I dream a lot of shit since you came back.

” He rubs the back of his neck. “I mean came here. Not back. I think I’m about twelve in that dream, and we are not in the forest, so it can’t be real. I was born here and I’ve never left.”

“Yeah, it must have just been a weird coincidence that I had that dream then, too.” We stare at each other for a long moment, both of us knowing that this is weird. Far too weird.

He straightens. “I’m going for a shower, and then we can go for training. Eat up. I got you everything you like.”

He has. I look down at the plate full of all my favorite foods, including French toast. I frown, wondering how he possibly knew that, as he walks off, grabs clothes, and goes for a shower.

I’m too hungry and still feeling really tired despite sleeping.

I shove food into my mouth before I go and shower myself, getting dressed, and putting my hair up into a high ponytail.

When I come out, Black’s already waiting for me. “Let’s go. You look very pretty today. You’re going to walk with me everywhere now.”

“I don’t really need an escort, Black.” I shrug. “I’m used to walking alone.”

“That was my error. You should have never walked alone for even a moment, and you will not again. I will be there. I vow it.” He reaches up, touching my cheek.

I feel like I can’t breathe. I forget how to as he stares at me.

Black looks away first, but he takes my hand, linking our fingers together.

“People are going to think we’re dating,” I mutter.

“Fuck what people think. The only person that matters is you and what you think.” Black shrugs. “By the way, please undo the hex on Vale’s weapons. He is an asshole, but he needs those.”

“He hasn’t apologized.” I shake my head as he opens the door and we head out into the corridor. “So, no.”

Black sighs. “You don’t understand. We all have to be at the top of the leadership board for our aunt and the children she adopts from the war.

They need food and supplies, and no one else helps them because why would they?

Their own families are hungry enough.” My stomach hurts from the thought.

“If it helps, he won’t like that. You can claim to be the bigger person and undo it.

That will piss him off without hurting others. ”

“I’ll undo it.” I nod at him. “But please tell me more ways to annoy the fuck out of Vale.”

Black laughs low and I grin. We both go silent as we walk into the stadium.

Maz waves an arm to call us over, and I’m surprised.

He is standing on his own, away from Vale and Kane, who are sitting together on chairs at the side.

They both look mad. “Today will be a brilliant way of ruining his life.”

“What?” I ask.

Black doesn’t answer because our tutor is already clapping for silence and we have gotten to Maz. “Good morning class. Today will be focused on bond training. You know the drill.” Great, another day of being sidelined. “Who is going first?”

To my utter shock, Black steps forward. The room goes silent and everyone’s eyes shoot to me. Even our tutor. “I will. Dragons go first. Every fucking time.”

Is this real? It can’t be, he has to be playing me or something.

“I walk on the path with you. In sky, in air, in blood. We are one,” Black murmurs in my ear before he walks away.

Maz looks more unsure, but he turns to stare at me.

“I will shift next.” More hushed whispers burst out of the crowd, and Maz follows Black.

I feel like time pauses as they walk forward and they shift.

My mouth pops open and my jaw might as well drop to the ground.

Two massive silver dragons fill the end of the stadium before the open doors, the pouring splintering rain outside hammering on the floors.

My eyes drop to Vale and Kane, who are furious.

I stare at Kane for a moment longer, like he might join them and then Vale might stubbornly follow.

But they don’t move; they just watch me like I’m their enemy.

I’m their bonded, this is normal. I don’t get why they are so mad.

None of us can change this. There isn’t a spell for it.

“Congratulations, but move.” Tutor Den nudges my back. A bit of hope, hope that I might have someone to fight in the war with me feels so strange but perfect.

I didn’t think this through…I have to ride those massive dragons. In the sky. When I’m scared of heights…well, more of falling, to be honest. I still move, knowing Tutor Den is going to get mad if I don’t, and I don’t want to blow this chance with my bonded.