Page 50 of Hex and Scales

“The dreams.” Clover’s eyes widened. “You’ve been having dreams about Ren for years.”

“They weren’t dreams. They were memories trying to surface.” Sabine wrapped her hands around her mug, drawing comfort from its warmth. “Every time I thought I saw him in my sleep, every time I woke up crying for someone I couldn’t remember - I was remembering him. Remembering us.”

A grin spread across Romi’s face. “So what you’re saying is... your only competition for Ren’s heart was yourself?”

“Romi!” But Sabine couldn’t help laughing.

“No, seriously.” Romi’s eyes danced with mischief. “How does it feel knowing he’s been pining after you for actual centuries? Talk about relationship goals.”

“More like relationship longevity record,” Clover added drily. “None of us can compete with ‘loved you across lifetimes.’“

The familiar teasing eased an anxiety Sabine hadn’t realized she’d been carrying. Even knowing her past life, even witnessing her enhanced powers, they still treated her like their friend. Still ribbed her about her love life.

“I’m glad I remember,” she admitted softly. “He was so torn over his feelings for me as Sabine. Like he was betraying Shiara’s memory by falling in love again. Now he knows he doesn’t have to choose.”

“Because you’re both.” Clover reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “But... should we call you Shiara now?”

“No.” Sabine squeezed back, grateful for the question. “Shiara died on that battlefield. I’m Sabine - just with an extra lifetime of memories and magic now. My love for Ren survived death itself, but I’m not the same person I was then.”

“Good.” Romi grinned. “Because I already ordered your birthday cake with ‘Sabine’ on it, and magical bakery corrections are a pain.”

“That’s next month!”

“Hey, some of us plan ahead.” Romi paused. “Although... do we count your age from this life or add in the previous one? Because that would make you seriously high maintenance in the candle department.”

Sabine tossed a napkin at her friend’s head. “Don’t you dare.”

“Too late!” Romi ducked, cackling. “I’m already imagining Ren trying to fit eight hundred and thirty candles on a cake.”

“At least make it a big cake,” Clover suggested with mock seriousness. “Something worthy of a reincarnated dragon witch.”

“I hate you both.” But Sabine’s heart swelled with love for these ridiculous women who could turn earth-shattering revelations into jokes about birthday candles.

“No, you don’t.” Romi stole a bite of Sabine’s untouched scone. “You love us. In this life and the next.”

“Speaking of love...” Clover’s smile turned sly. “Now that you have all your memories back, you have to tell us - was Ren always so stoic? Or did past-you manage to make him crack a smile occasionally?”

Sabine thought of private moments in palace gardens, of stolen kisses and secret laughter. Of the way Ren’s eyes still crinkled the same way when he smiled, eight centuries later.

“Oh, I have stories.” She grinned as her friends leaned forward eagerly. “But first - someone needs to refresh these drinks. We’re going to be here a while.”

FORTY-FOUR

After lunch, Sabine went straight home to find Ren waiting for her the moment she walked in. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard.

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too,” she breathed through his kisses. He carried her to the bedroom and in seconds he was pulling their clothes off.

He smiled down at her, and before she knew what was going on, she was completely nude under him on the bed. Sabine wanted to remember every single second of this moment. Though he’d mated her already, remembering their past love made this moment so much more special between them.

“Ren,” she purred. “Please. Touch me. Do something.”

“You’ve got it, my sweet witch. I’m gonna make you feel so good. So good, you’ll remember tonight forever.”

Ren pinned her legs down onto the bed. “Fuck, little tigress. You’re already drenched. I’ve barely touched you.”

“But you do know that you touch me in all the right ways, right?”

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