“You’ll see soon enough,” he says cryptically, a shadow of asmile flickering across his face. “Looks like your beloved is quite entertained with someone else.”
Before I can respond, he gives a sardonic smile and vanishes, leaving me in a cloud of darkness, and the faint scent of him lingers in the air.
I gaze into the crowd, my eyes quickly finding Colton. He’s surrounded by a group, but one woman in particular catches my attention—a young woman with straight brown hair, clad in a daringly revealing white dress, laughing and frequently touching his arm.
A surge of jealousy tightens my chest, an unfamiliar and unwelcome sensation that urges me to stride over there and claim what’s mine. But I refuse to let Elspeth or Nyx spoil my evening. Instead, I’m going to join the fun.
I teleport myself directly in front of a server carrying a tray of the all-too-familiar Stardust drinks, grab two, and down them swiftly. If the night is going to spiral, I might as well steer it myself.
With newfound resolve, I weave through the crowd to Colton’s side, sensing his immediate recognition. He turns, his eyes sweeping over me with palpable desire, then pulls me close, his arm securely around my shoulder. “This is my gorgeous fiancé, Lyra,” he introduces me proudly, his hand slipping lower on my back to caress the bare skin there. “This is Lucrezia, Cyril, and Crimson,” he continues.
Cyril, the smirk lingering on his lips, lets his gaze drift lower than appropriate. “My face is up here,” I snap more sharply than intended. His eyes flick back to mine, chastened like a child caught misbehaving. Beside me, Colton stifles a chuckle, and Lucrezia, perhaps embarrassed, pulls Cyril away.
That leaves Crimson—the overly friendly woman and daughter of Elspeth’s friend. Our eyes meet, and I steel myself, ready to handle whatever the night throws my way.
I can’t believe that’s even a name—it’s a shade of red. “I think it’s best I get a drink. You two enjoy your evening,” she says, ducking away. She might be smarter than I initially thought, wise enough to leave and stop touching what’s mine.
I turn to face Colton, his hands pulling me close. “You’re scary when you want to be,” he says, laughing.
“I guess you’re not the only possessive one in this relationship,” I tell him, and he laughs even harder.
I press my body against his, and an embarrassing moan escapes my lips due to the closeness. My breasts feel heavy, and I long for his touch. “I think we’ve shown our faces here long enough, don’t you?” he suggests, and I nod, getting on my tiptoes to whisper in his ear.
“I may have had one or two Stardust drinks too,” I confess, nibbling on his earlobe. His grip around my waist tightens.
“In that case,” he replies, waving his hand as his own Stardust drink appears. He downs it quickly, and then his sweet citrus scent envelops us, accompanied by a swirl of wind as we channel away.
Chapter 18
Lyra
“What is this place?”I ask in a whisper as I slowly turn, taking in my surroundings.
Colton flashes me one of his heart-stopping smirks. “Oh, my shadow, I could bring you to a new romantic location within the Dream Forest every night for a year, and we still wouldn’t see all of its beauty,” he declares, and gods, I believe him.
This secluded part of the forest forms a natural enclave, crafted by the dense canopy of towering trees and cascading wisteria vines. The ancient, majestic trees with their thick, gnarled trunks and broad branches intertwine, forming a vaulting ceiling far above. From this verdant arch, long clusters of wisteria blooms hang like curtains of rich violet, transforming the space into a cave-like sanctuary.
I walk along the small river’s edge, looking up. The canopy is so lush that it nearly obscures the sky, allowing only speckled beams of moonlight to filter through. These beams illuminate the mist rising off the river, adding to the spectacular ambiance.
“It’s so beautiful—this may be my favorite place yet,” I tell him.
He tugs on my hand, drawing my attention back to him. His touch sends shivers up my skin, and a deep yearning starts to form in my core. The cool air, fragrant with the scent of fresh blooms and wet earth, heightens the sense of entering a hidden grotto. The tranquility is further enhanced by the soft murmurs of a modest waterfall behind Colton.
I glance past him to see its waters cascading into the calm river below, and the idea of getting into the water is suddenly very tempting.
He sheds his jacket and shirt, tossing them aside along with his boots, as if he’s tuned into my unspoken desires. I slip off my shoes and start to tug at one of my dress straps, but Colton catches my hand, clicking his tongue in gentle admonishment. My brow furrows in confusion, but before I can protest, he lifts me effortlessly and carries me toward the water.
“Don’t spoil all my fun. I want to undress you...slowly,” he murmurs, his voice a warm caress as we wade into the shallow waters near the waterfall.
The water is pleasantly warm. The mist from the waterfall feels good as it splashes off the rocks and rains down on us. “I might actually make you work for it. You still have some explaining to do,” I retort playfully, echoing him from earlier.
He responds by tightening his grip on my ass, pressing me closer to him in a way that nearly draws a moan from deep within me. The effects of the Stardust drink are intensifying, and my desire for him grows with each passing second.
“Is that so? Well, ask away, Princess,” he challenges, his lips trailing a path of kisses up my damp neck.
“What have you been doing with Dorian? Do you know about the military camps Nyx has set up in Vision Valley? Is Dorian supplying them with weaponry?” I fire off my questions, each one punctuated by his kisses slowing as heprocesses them.
He pulls back to look at me, dipping us further into the water until it reaches his waist. “What exactly have you been up to yourself? Seems you’ve been quite busy lately too,” he teases, desire still alight in his eyes despite the shift toward more serious conversation.
