Page 141 of Cursed Dreams
His words struck something deep in her. She blinked back the sudden sting in her eyes.
Caelum pulled her closer, his voice like warm velvet. “You’ve been so brave. I can’t imagine how hard it’s been. But you’ve never stopped. You’ve honoured me with your strength, Thalia. With your heart.”
She shivered against him, emotion pooling thick in her chest. “I just want to free you. It’s not fair, what happened to you. What the dragons did, what they took.”
His expression darkened, the flicker of light in his eyes swallowed by something far more dangerous. “The dragon,” he said, voice strained. “Vaelith.” He spat the name like poison. “If I weren’t bound here, I’d rip him apart with my bare hands.”
He looked at her then, jaw clenched, fury simmering just beneath the surface. “He’s hurt you. Hunted you. Twisted everything. And I can’t do a damn thing about it, yet.”
His hand curled around hers, “But when I’m free I vow… he’ll pay for what he’s done to us. If he so much as breathes in your direction again, I’ll make sure it’s the last thing he ever does.
Something shifted in Thalia’s chest. Caelum’s protectiveness wasn’t new, but there was a lethal edge to his voice now, a quiet finality that made her breath catch. It wasn’t just a promise. It was a warning, to anyone who dared to hurt her, she knew they wouldn’t live long enough to regret it.
“I’ll be careful,” she whispered, resting her cheek against his shoulder again. “I just want this to be over. I want to be with you. Always.”
He stroked her hair gently. “You will be soon. You’re so close, Thalia. And once we’re together, I’ll never let you go. My goddess. My heart.”
The warmth of his touch, the strength of his arms around her, lulled her, dulled the sharp edges of worry and fear. Her eyes began to flutter closed, heavy with sleep.
Caelum leaned down, lips brushing her ear.
“My goddess,” he whispered, voice thick with reverence. “My princess. My future queen.”
She smiled faintly as sleep pulled her under, sated and safe in his arms.
Thalia blinked awake to the soft flicker of candlelight casting long shadows on the smooth stone walls of the temple’s prayer hall. It was still night, perhaps the hour just before dawn. She sat up slowly, the stone beneath her cold and uncomfortable. Her limbs felt heavy, loose, and languid, her body still humming with the aftershocks of Caelum’s touch, the sound of his voice echoing through her chest like a promise. Her lips tingled from his kisses, and warmth still bloomed low in her belly.
She let out a breathy laugh, shaking her head. Of course she’d fallen asleep inside a dream. That was her life now, where dreams had become more than sleep bound visions. They were bridges, stitched together by memory and magic, shifting with emotion and will.
The thought made her smile as she rose to her feet. She longed to stay with Caelum a little longer, but the comfort of being connected to him again settled something inside her. After so many restless nights, the bond between them felt like a balm, a steady thread grounding her through the chaos of everything else.
The temple halls were quiet as she padded through them, her feet silent against cool marble. A few sconces still burned along the walls, their golden light painting dancing shapes that followed her down the corridor. Outside, a breeze stirred faintly against the high windows, carrying the scent of dew and the hint of approaching dawn.
When she reached their room, she eased the door open quietly, careful not to wake anyone. The sight that greeted her, made her pause in the doorway, a soft smile tugging at her lips. In the far corner of the room, nestled together under one blanket, were Marand and Cellen. Cellen’s arm was draped protectively over Marand’s waist, his face buried in the wild spill of her hair. Marand’s hand rested lightly against his chest, both were sound asleep, the rise and fall of their breathing in perfect sync.
Thalia’s heart warmed at the sight.Finally,she thought, her smile deepening. It was so like Cellen to hide behind jokes and flippant words, and so like Marand to quietly hold her feelings close. But they had found each other, despite it all, and that brought a flicker of hope to her chest.
She moved quietly to her own bed, sliding beneath the blanket and curling onto her side. The stone walls no longer felt quite so cold. Her thoughts drifted to Caelum, to the way his fingers had brushed her cheek, the awe in his voice when he’d called her his goddess… his queen.
Her heart skipped at the memory. Soon. If the gods were kind, if luck stayed with them, she would be in his arms again, this time in the waking world. That thought settled her like nothing else had in weeks. With a soft sigh, she let her eyes drift closed once more, peace blooming in her chest as sleep pulled her under.
Chapter 35
Thalia woke to soft morning light pouring in through the small arched windows, golden rays cutting through the last shreds of sleep. The temple chamber was warmer now than it had been in the chill of night, and the sounds of early morning movement filtered in from the hall, footsteps, distant chatter, the low chiming of temple bells.
Across the room, Cellen and Marand sat close together on the bed, whispering and laughing under their breath, the rumpled blanket pooled around them. Nyla, still nestled in her own bed, cracked one eye open and glanced at Thalia, raising her brows in silent commentary. Thalia bit back a smile, catching the unspoken question in her friend’s look
Did they really share a bed all night?a smile spread over her face as she gave her a small silent nod to confirm
They dressed quickly and made their way to the main dining hall, where long tables were set with simple but hearty fare, fresh bread, soft cheese, and bowls of fruit. As they sat down and began helping themselves, the air buzzed with quiet excitement.
Marand, sipping from a steaming cup of tea, grinned at the group. “You’ll all be thrilled to know,” she said, placing hercup down with dramatic flair, “the priestesses have arranged for horses to be brought around within the hour.”
Thalia froze mid-bite. “Oh no,” she muttered, dread coiling in her stomach. “Not horses.”
Cellen immediately perked up. “Oh, thank the stars. We’ve finally got horses. I swear I have blisters on top of blisters” He grinned, nudging Thalia. “Some of us weren’t built for endless trekking, you know.”
Thalia slumped in her seat. “I am going to die. Fall off and break my neck before we evenfindthe forest.”
