Addison

I’m walking on the border of the Azure and Pine Kingdoms. I always found it odd that there is a definitive line between us. Not one that’s drawn on the ground, but one where the trees of our land turn to the towering pines of theirs. It surrounds them. Where the pines end, so does their land.

Hesitantly, I take a step toward their forest. I’ve always wanted to step inside, and there’s no one in sight. What better time than the present?

My feet pad soundlessly over fallen trees, on top of moss-covered stumps, and dead pine needles. Not even a crunch beneath me. That’s odd. There should be some sound. Stopping for a moment, I lift my head to the sky as a small beam of light lands on my cheeks. I listen. There are no animals running about, no dragons flying in the air, not even the low thud of horse hooves in the distance. It’s mid-day; surely someone would be out, however I don’t hear anything.

I decide to go forward. Nothing in my body is warning me to turn back. I want to know what I’ll find within this forest.

The further I go, the more I feel like I’m walking in an endless loop. Nothing new is appearing, and I’m not breaking free on the other side. Surely there will be homes or even the Pine castle, eventually.

Then, just up ahead, I see something in one of the trees, high in its branches. The closer I get, I realize it’s a structure. Nothing elaborate, only four walls and a roof. I round one side and notice two windows, each with eight small panes of glass.

When I’m directly below it, I find a ladder made of rope and small planks of wood. I listen for movement within it, but hear nothing. There’s something inside of me, nudging me to climb the ladder. I’m not sure what I’ll find, but my brothers have trained me well enough; I know I can handle my own and get away before being severely hurt. At least I hope so.

Two steps up and my body is fully on the ladder. It sways a little to the side as I continue to climb; the rope pulling taut with each step. At the top, I lift myself onto a landing. It’s only big enough to fit one or two people on. There’s a plain wooden door, which I don’t bother knocking on before I push open. The door swings gently to the side with a soft tap on the wall. Looking around, I notice a small bed on the floor, books scattered beside it, and not much else. It’s a tight space, but it’s obvious someone comes here.

I decide to fully enter the small dwelling, not linger in the doorway. When I do, two arms wrap around me from behind, and a strange current passes through my body. One arm crosses my stomach to pull me flat against a hard chest. The other cups my mouth to keep me from screaming. My body tenses, unsure of what to do. I’m caught off guard, not in a defensive position at all.

While my mind runs through various techniques I could use to get this person off of me, a low voice growls in my ear. “I don’t know who you are, but you don’t belong here. I’m going to remove my hand from your mouth, and you’re going to tell me your name.” No way that’s happening.

The moment his hand is free from my lips, I use the opportunity to try and twist, while slamming my arms against theirs around my waist. I know there is something smarter I could be doing, but my mind isn’t registering it.

Instead of releasing me, I’m picked up and tossed to the bed as if I weigh nothing. My hair flies about my face, leaving the person in front of me hidden from view. The next thing I know, my arms are wrenched above my head, solid legs straddle my waist, and my hair is pushed roughly from my face. In the dim light of the structure, I’m now face-to-face with none other than Oliver Sage.

From the look on his face, he’s as shocked as I am. “Addison? What are you doing here?”

“I…I went for a walk and found this place. I didn’t know it was yours.”

He cocks his head to the side. “How would you? You’ve never been here before, have you?”

I shake my head. “No, never.”

“I’m going to release you now. Don’t run.” I nod, unable to talk. There’s a low hum coursing through me. The moment he lets go of me, the hum is gone. I’m not sure what it means, but know with certainty it has to do with Oliver.

He runs his hands through his dirty blond hair then looks at me with piercing green eyes. “I should be throwing you over my shoulder and taking you out of here. You’re trespassing.”

I scoff. “You could try.”

His eyes narrow. “I’m not playing, Addison. You shouldn’t be here.” This I know, yet here I am.

“Then remove me if you must.”

“Why aren’t you afraid of me?”

“I’m not sure. Should I be afraid of you?”

“Everyone else is.”

“I’m not everyone else.”

His lips lift on one side as they start to form a smile. “I’m not sure what’s going on.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why are you in my dream?” His dream? I didn’t realize I was dreaming, although now that he said it, it makes perfect sense. No noise, no people, no nothing in the forest. Only me…and Oliver.

“I’m not sure. I started on the edge of the forest and wanted to explore it. No one was around and I’ve always wanted to come here. The trees fascinate me. Like there’s a secret they hold.”

He doesn’t say anything for a moment, then lets out a long breath. “We’re enemies, you know?”

“No, we were enemies. We’re allies now.”

“You know as well as I do, we are not friends.”

“It is odd. I should want to beat your face in right now, but I’m eerily calm.” Who knew I could be this relaxed near Oliver Sage? Then again, it is only a dream.

“Maybe we actually get along in our dreams.”

I bark out a laugh. “Wouldn’t that be interesting?”

“May I try something?”

I turn to face him again. His eyes are gentle, curious. “Sure.” What do I have to lose? There’s no one here and it’s not like I can really get hurt. I don’t think he’s going to attack me. What happens in our dreams stays there. No one will know but me. Oliver isn’t even really here, only the version of him I conjured up in my mind.

Slowly, he brings his hand up, hesitating for a moment, then lightly runs his fingers along my cheek. The moment our skin touches, that hum is back in my body. My eyes widen as Oliver sucks in a breath.

“Do you feel it, too?” he asks me.

I nod. He doesn’t remove his hand, but cups my cheek in his palm, while his thumb slowly strokes my skin. Leaning in closer, he watches me intently. I’m caught in his gaze, not wanting to move, curious as to what will happen next.

His warm breath fans across my lips when he speaks. “What is this, Addison? Why is this happening?”

“I’m not sure.” He comes closer, as if he’s about to kiss me, and strangely, I want him to. My body is buzzing with his nearness and touch. I want to feel him against me.

“Addi,” he whispers, as he closes the remaining distance between us.

Bang, bang, bang. I shoot up in bed, my eyes wide, my heart racing, and my body ablaze with want. What just happened? Bang, bang, bang. My brain is trying to signal my body to move. The door. Someone’s at the door.

Looking down, I notice I’m still in the long shirt I fell asleep in. Quickly, I jump up and pull on a pair of black cotton pants, a bra, and a long-sleeved, navy blue top. Bang, bang, bang. I growl low in my throat. Whoever is at the door is testing my patience.

I rush down the stairs and throw open the front door. “What?” I yell.

“Addison, I didn’t know if you heard me knocking,” Wesley says, standing before me. His eyes are large at the abrupt way I answered. He should be used to me by now. We’ve been together for months.

“The entire courtyard could hear you knocking, Wes.” I don’t even try to mask my frustration.

“Can I come in?” he asks timidly. He’s a strong fighter, but where I’m concerned he’s gentler, loving. I’m sure he’s waiting for me to bite his head off, then again, maybe seeing him is just what I need after that dream I had. My skin still tingles, as if Oliver is touching me even in my wakened state.

I step aside to let him in. Shutting the door behind him, I step to him, and grip the back of his neck. I pull his mouth to mine in a heated kiss. Our tongues touch, his hands start to rove my body, but something is missing. There’s no hum. What is going on with me? I break apart from him and take a step back.

“Don’t do that. Not when things are just getting started,” he says in a sultry voice. He wraps an arm around my waist to bring me close again.

“Oh, get away from me.” I slap him on the chest and step around him.

Wes takes a seat on the couch, while I pace the length of the room in my bare feet. He’s watching me intently, but decides to remain quiet. Smart man.

I quickly remember to put my shield up to block my thoughts from him. Then, and only then, is it safe to try and process everything.

Okay, I need to rationalize what’s happening. I saw Oliver at the wedding. He caught me when I tripped. The second our skin touched I felt a current rush through me. Any other time, I would have ripped my arm from his grasp and demand he never touch me again. It must have been the strange connection we had when we touched that caused me to pause.

Then there’s the dream. What even happened there? In the beginning, it felt like a dream. When I saw Oliver and our skin touched again, it felt real. Very, very real. It couldn’t have been, though. Ali had told me she and Luke dreamt of one another before they met in person. She never mentioned anything more. I’m certain if it were more than just a dream, she would have told me.

Either it was only a dream, or it was something more. I have no way to know if Oliver had the same dream I did. I’m not about to jump on Em, fly to his kingdom, and demand he tell me what happened while he was asleep last night. I can’t rule out it not being real, given all the magical things that happen here. I’m a magical being, after all. I’m proof anything is possible. But a dream? With Oliver Sage? I don’t know if it could have been anything but a figment of my vivid imagination.

Shaking my head, I decide to let it go for now. I stop in front of Wes and look down at him. Midnight hair, matching eyes, and a body any woman would desire. He is one of our Elite for a reason. Luke and Elliott approve of us dating. Not that they have the final say, but it’s nice to know they think highly of Wes. There is no conflict amongst us over the pairing.

I step forward and drop onto his lap, my legs straddling him. Gently, I take his face in my hands and press a kiss to his lips. He’s warm and comfortable, yet no hum.

The kiss quickly becomes passionate. Just because there is no hum doesn’t mean I’m not someone with needs. Wes and I are very compatible in the bedroom. He sates all of my sexual needs and I do the same for him.

I don’t spend time with many men. It’s only one when I’m in a relationship with the person that I sleep with. Wes and I have been together for months now. He’s even told me he loved me, although I haven’t returned the sentiment yet. I’m not ready to give my heart over. When it’s right, I’ll know. It could be right with Wes, however hasn’t gotten there yet. At least for me. One day maybe.

He picks me up and carries me up the stairs with ease, while my legs wrap tightly around his waist. Carefully lowering me to the bed, he begins to undress me while feathering kisses across my body as he exposes my skin. We spend the rest of the morning in each other’s arms.