Page 36 of Fearsome Dream

“That’s very generous of you,” Andreas says in a wry tone. His gaze holds mine for a beat, desire flaring in the dark gray depths of his eyes. “A night off from worrying sounds good to me. Why don’t we check the place out?”

I’m sure we’ve all noticed the building at the edge of the west garden before. I’d hardly call the thing a “cabin,” though.

As we cross the lawn between the flower beds, the grass whispering under our feet, I study the white-washed walls that match the mansion and debate whether it could even reasonably be called a “cottage” or if “house” is the only fair term.

The place is only one floor, but it’s decorated as immaculately and stylishly as the mansion proper. We roam from the sprawling kitchen with its gleaming stainless steel through a living room full of plump leather upholstery and peek into three bedrooms with king-sized beds and the relaxing scent of lavender lacing the air.

I can’t help comparing the space to the home I imagined us settling into after we first fled the facility. At the time, I pictured someplace full of old wood and a cozy atmosphere, off in the untamed wilderness.

Kind of like the isolated forest cottage where we found Ursula Engel. Tangling with our creator left me with mixed feelings about that kind of setup.

Rollick’s guest “cabin” is expansively airy and bright with daylight-toned light fixtures, but something about the openness makes it easier for me to consider unwinding. Like there’s room for me to set aside all of the worries on my shoulders for the night, knowing I won’t lose sight of anything I needed to keep track of when I come back to them in the morning.

Back in the kitchen, Andreas starts mixing drinks from the offerings in the bar cabinet and fridge. He slides them across the counter to their recipients one by one with the total confidence of the guy who’s always held on to every bit of our history.

Jacob speaks up before Drey gets to him. “I want Riva-style lemonade. If you think you can pull that off.”

Before I can open my mouth to say I can make it myself, Andreas grins. “Already had it planned. I can make double.” He flicks his gaze to me. “And you can tell me how successful I am.”

As he squeezes the lemons, I lean my elbows on the island between the kitchen and the living area, basking in the unexpected sense of normalcy. How impossible is it that after all the torment we endured, all the lies the guardians told and the enemies we’ve faced, we all ended up here?

Together. Alive. More deeply connected than I could have conceived was possible.

Andreas pushes the first glass of homemade lemonade my way, and I bring it to my lips. Does he have any idea how tart I actually like it?

Apparently so. The sourness hits my tongue hard enough to send a shiver through me, but it’s one of delight. All of my tastebuds jitter eagerly as I take another gulp.

I grin at Drey. “It’s perfect.”

Jacob takes a swig from his glass and shakes himself. “All right, that’s got bite. Just like our wildcat, when she’s in the right mood.” He aims a teasing look my way.

With total maturity, I stick my tongue out at him. And then get back to draining my shockingly refreshing drink.

“Where’d you learn to make cocktails?” Zian asks Andreas, sipping from his own glass. It’s a fair question, considering we haven’t exactly had access to liquor for the vast majority of our lives.

Dominic chuckles. “You know Drey. He probably taught himself out of some bartender’s memories.”

Andreas holds up his hands. “Hey, we’ve got to make use of our talents every way we can, right?”

Griffin smiles at him. “We’re nothing without our memories, so you’ve got a pretty important one.”

The casually friendly conversation wraps around me with a different sort of warmth. A lump rises in my throat that I can’t quite wash away with the last of my lemonade.

Andreas catches my expression, and the happiness in his fades. “Is everything all right, Tink?”

“Yeah,” I say around the lingering ache. “It really is. Even with all the crap we’ve had thrown at us, even with Balthazar carrying on like a maniac… It’s amazing that we’re here. That we’ve got each other. We really made it out. No one’s controlling us anymore.”

A glow lights in the guys’ faces as they absorb those words.

“We made it,” Dominic agrees in a soft voice. “Maybe there’s more that we’d want to do than we’ve accomplished yet, but this—this is as far as we ever dreamed four years ago.”

Griffin tucks his fingers around my elbow and guides me closer to him, his sky-blue eyes sparkling. “And I think we should celebrate that fact—and the woman who made sure we got here.”

I’d protest that all of us worked together toward this goal, but then he’s drawing my lips to his. I can’t refuse the tender passion of his kiss.

The desire that first kindled at Rollick’s suggestive proposal flares low in my belly again. I kiss Griffin back hard and then glance around at the others.

“We should definitely celebrate. It’s the first time we’ve been totally free—let’s make it the first time all six of us consummate this crazy relationship together too.”

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