Page 108 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

21

The Hollow

Leah was glad to be far from everything, far from her nightmarish life. Perhaps that was why her dreams were no longer uncomfortable and disturbing, but rather wonderful. And that was how she was here with Fel. It was as if in this dreamscape he had never rejected her. And indeed, the green fire in his eyes was the furthest away from rejection she could imagine.

She sat by him and ran her hand over his hair, feeling its soft texture in the tips of her fingers. He closed his eyes, as if basking in her touch. When he opened them, there was determination in his look, then he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. It was like the kiss that had been cut short in her room, deep and desperate and hungry, except that this time she had no fear, no guilt, no shame. His kiss was also sweet and tender, but it was a furious, desperate tenderness, a touch that she relished.

Leah ran her hands over his back, realizing, with surprise, that there was no fabric between his skin and her fingers, as she felt his warmth, his softness.

It all felt unreal, magical, wonderful. Leah closed her eyes as he kissed her neck then felt him pulling up her nightgown, pulling down her bodice. As it should be. Now there was nothing between them, nothing separating them. He laid her down and kissed her more and more and more, the feeling of his body over hers pleasant, soothing, the feeling of his chest against hers delightful.

It was all wondrous, even more so as he kissed her breasts, her belly, all the way to that strange place of pleasure and shame and guilt, except that there was only tenderness and pleasure now. It all felt right. His clothes were off too, and then he was staring into her eyes, so much feeling in his look. Dream Fel loved her. And she loved him back, she knew it in her heart. More than just her heart.

He gave a light chuckle, as if coming to the same realization as her. Regret and sadness overtook her when she remembered this was just a dream.

His eyes widened and he tensed. “Leah?”

“Yes?”

“How…” He frowned, confused.

Many silver pieces flew from a side table. His hands. He pinched her shoulder softly. “Are you real?”

A horrible feeling was settling in the pit of her stomach. But it couldn’t be. “Are you real?”

He sat up, his expression horrified. “Shit, Leah. Of course I’m real. What are you doing here?” He was getting dressed and tossed her clothes back. “I mean, I’m so, so, so sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am.”

This was strange. But Leah was used to strange dreams. But then, something was off. She tried to cross her hands—and couldn’t. But that had happened to her before. He was part of her dream, even if it didn’t make much sense.

He continued, “I swear, I thought I was dreaming, I thought… I’m so awfully sorry.”

Leah pulled a sheet to cover her naked body. She wasn’t going to process what was happening and put on her bodice at the same time. “You are part of my dream, right?” She really hoped so. “There’s nothing to be sorry about.”

He covered his face with his metal hand. “Leah. This is real. I’m real. This place is real. And if you’re not my very realistic hallucination, then you’re here, and it means…” He sighed.

Real? It didn’t make sense. “What’s this place?”

“The barracks in the Umbraar Royal Fort.”

She decided to get dressed. “Umbraar. Then it’s obviously a dream.” Her fingers were shaky as she laced her bodice. “How would I have gotten here?” It was bizarre to argue against someone imaginary.

“How do I know? I was sleeping. I saw you. What did you expect me to think?”

She put back her nightgown, which didn’t change the fact that she wasn’t properly dressed. “I was in the Ironhold castle in my very locked room. How would I have come all the way here?”

He sat and took her hands in his. “Listen to me. Leah, this is real. This is me. I would never have been so forward. Never. But I didn’t think. I didn’t know! How did you get here?” There was agony in his voice.

“I don’t know. I sometimes get trapped in weird nightmares, and I think this is one of them.” It had to be, or else she wouldn’t know how to deal with the shame.

“It’s not. All I know is I almost—” He closed his eyes. His tone turned cold all of a sudden. “Aren’t you married?”

She felt a bitter taste in her mouth. “Yes.”

“You haven’t done this with your husband yet?” He asked the question matter-of-factly. This wasn’t dream Fel anymore, and she was starting to get worried.

“No.”

“How did you get here?” he insisted. His voice was soft, but his tone was urgent.

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