Page 44 of Heavenly Bodies

‘Elara?’ he rasped, his voice ragged.

The dream changed again. Once more they were back in the marbled room, though it had shrunk in size, the numbers glowing upon the wall. She took a step forwards, bringing a palm to the side of Enzo’s face. He winced and she dropped her hand.

‘It’s okay,’ she murmured. ‘Breathe.’

He took a shuddering breath.

‘Good,’ she said. ‘Now another.’

He obeyed her command. She went to put her palm to his face again, and this time he leaned into it, closing his eyes as he exhaled deeply.

‘You’re just dreaming,’ she said, kneeling opposite him,unwilling to move her hand. Light throbbed out of the darkness, readying to strike, and with a snarl, Elara struck her free hand out, shadows spewing from her. They choked the savage rays, quelled the source of that awful whip, and deadened the flames. Black smoke wreathed out around her until finally, her shadows won the battle, launching the dreamscape into darkness. Cool air swept over them as the flames abated, and Elara pulled the shadows back to her, letting out a slow breath as her darkness kissed them both.

‘See?’ she said, raising his head. ‘Just a dream.’

Enzo opened his eyes warily, looking around them. Her shadows danced out towards him, and she smiled to see them, bringing her hand back to her lap.

‘How did you do that?’ he asked hoarsely.

She shrugged, smiling. ‘I guess sometimes the Light needs the Dark.’

She rose, stretching out a hand to him. He took it, though the touch was feather-soft in the dreamscape, his gold gaze locked on hers as he stood up.

‘The place could use some décor,’ she said lightly, looking pointedly to the dripping, bloody numbers. She was trying not to show Enzo that she was still shaking at what she’d witnessed. His gaze followed hers, his expression bleak. ‘What do those numbers mean?’

Enzo closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. ‘Three hundred and thirty-three. The number of Asterians I’ve killed.’

Elara took a step back, dropping his hand.

‘I remember every single one. Their names, their faces.’ His eyes searched hers wildly.

Elara didn’t know what to say. She had known he’d killed many, and knowing the exact number sickened her. Yet it stunned her that he remembered. That his actions haunted his dreams.

Her mouth worked. ‘Thank you for telling me,’ she finally replied. ‘Next time this happens,’ she added, ‘just remember my shadows.’ Her lip quirked. ‘They seem to like you more than I do.’

His head jerked up. ‘What did you just say?’

She frowned. ‘I said my shadows seem to like you more than I do.’

He gave her a strange look, replacing that eerie darkness in his eyes.

‘What you saw, in the throne room—’

‘I won’t tell a soul, if that’s what you’re worried about.’

His eyes fluttered shut, and something twisted within her, something that couldn’t stand to see her brave, arrogant enemy look so defeated. ‘And Enzo…I think you have your own monster to slay.’

His eyes flew open at that, but she had already turned, pointing to the wall.

‘Did you know that you can make your dreamscape whatever you want once you’re aware of it?’ She waved a hand, and the bloody numbers disappeared, a clean marble wall in their place. Enzo sagged. ‘Fill it with good memories.’

She took a step towards him. ‘Here,’ she pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, like the flutter of a butterfly’s wing. ‘There’s one to begin with.’

Enzo’s breathing hitched as his eyes bore into hers. He moved to grab her hand but, just like all the dreams she walked through, of another’s skin against hers, she barely felt it. She looked at it, then back at him, seeing his form fade as he began to wake.

‘Rest, Enzo. And remember, this was all just a dream.’

CHAPTER NINETEEN

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