Page 143 of Until the Stars Fall

A hot bath and some fresh clothes didn’t completely cure my hangover woes, but they helped enough for me to make the trek to my father’s office. As soon as I knocked, he called me in, and to my surprise, he set down the papers he’d been reviewing and waved me over to sit down.

“What is it, Connor?” The king had an odd look in his eye, as if he knew something I didn’t, but I mentally waved it aside and straightened in my chair.

“I want to give up the throne.”

He shifted forward slowly, eyeing me as if he hadn’t heard me. “Why? How?”

“Give it to Brennan,” I said. He actually choked, but I held up a hand before he could respond. “Let him marry Lieke. I’ll take his place and marry Calla.”

My father sat back in his chair, steepling his fingers in front of his mouth as he considered me. “The princess chose Brennan though. We don’t know that she’d accept you as a suitable replacement. And even if that weren’t the case, why? Why would you do this?”

“It’s what Lieke wants,” I said.

“Are you sure about that?” he asked.

“She loves him. She’s always loved him. Nothing’s changed.”

He raised a brow. “Yes, it has. Everything’s changed since you returned.”

I shrugged. “It was a difficult trip.”

His gaze softened. “I know she’s your mate, Connor. I could hear it in your heartbeats. Perfectly in sync.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said, looking down at the floor.

“Have you lost your stars-damned mind?” He was leaning forward again, his eyes blazing with intensity. It seemed like he honestly thought I had gone mad. Maybe I had. “Of course it fucking matters!”

“Why? If she doesn’t love me, why does it matter?” I challenged.

My father pressed his lips together and studied me for a long moment. I was about to press him for an answer to my proposal when he released a heavy sigh and settled back in his chair. “How have your dreams been lately?”

I stilled, confused. “What?”

“After you returned—after the kiss and the bond—was Lieke in your dreams?”

I shrugged slowly, trying to ignore how my face warmed at the memories. “Yes, but—”

“Can I assume by the shade you’re turning that these weren’tbaddreams?”

My stomach knotted. “So? They’re just dreams.”

“Matessharedreams, Connor. But only if they’re both thinking of each other. Not fleeting thoughts either. If she was there, she was thinking of you as much as you were of her.”

My heart sank into my stomach, and all my blood seemed to rush from my head. I was going to be sick.

The dreams had been real.

Every sensual, blissful moment. Every touch. Every kiss.

It had been real?

That didn’t prove anything. We did all sorts of things in dreams that we didn’t mean, acted on impulses we wouldn’t otherwise, and even though I had meant every single word I’d uttered to her, that didn’t mean she had meant hers.

“It doesn’t matter,” I repeated, shaking my head. “I spoke with her. She chose Brennan.” My throat tightened around those last words, as if the reality of them might actually strangle me. I needed to trust her. She’d told me what she wanted. Shared dreams or not, bond or not, I would honor her wishes, no matter the cost.

“Does she know?” my father asked slowly, deliberately.

My heart pitched itself into my throat, cutting off my voice so I could only mouth the word “No.” I lifted my eyes to the ceiling and tried to blink back the threatening tears.

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