Talons so sharp they create gouges in the ground scrape against the once perfect wooden floors. The only sound besides my rapid breathing and the constant drip, drip, drip of hot, fresh blood. Trembling so hard that the cabinet door begins to vibrate, the head of the monster whips to me, a cruel smile spread across its red stained mouth.

  The creature takes long, slow strides to where I cower behind the flimsy wooden door, each step making my heart run to the point of bursting. It stops in front of my hiding spot, leaning down so one hollow eye socket is lined up with my wide eye. It opens its bloody mouth, each jagged tooth visible through the small peephole. But to my horror, the voice that sounds is not the same I heard that night, but rather ghostly impressions of my family.

  “You let us die, Delphine.” Leo’s voice, like ash.

  “You’re a coward,” Rose seethes.

  “A traitorous coward,” my father gurgles.

  ? ? ?

  Stars twinkle softly overhead, a calming sight that soothes the unease I fell asleep with. The unease that swelled from the previous dream.

  I know that I’m still dreaming, mostly because instead of being surrounded by haunting trees, all I can see are miles of the most gorgeous snow capped mountains that could ever exist. The soft, chilled breeze allows me to take my first deep breath since being in this land, a much needed reprieve from the knotted twists of anxiety that have wound their way around my heart and soul like thorn coated vines.

  I turn in a slow circle, taking in the breathtaking scenery surrounding me. I would guess that I’m somewhere in Kah, but the beauty of this land seems beyond this world. As if I’ve stepped into a land that I was meant to live in, a land that could only bring me a sense of home.

  There are thousands of trees, each lush and stunning. The sound of a large waterfall closeby, pools of iridescent quicksilver flowing freely down the mountainside. Below, a town glows like stars, but soft music still somehow reaches my ears. This place is true perfection.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a figure in all black. His back is turned to me, but even from here, a piece of my soul recognizes him. Which is absurd, I highly doubt I’ve ever met this man. But regardless of who he is, I can’t help myself from taking an easy step towards him.

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  When I’m only a stride away, the man turns around. Immediately, butterflies swarm in my stomach. The sight of him is devastating. He’s even more breathtaking than the mountains around me. There is no other way to describe him than exquisite.

  His hair is shaggy and black, with a streak of silver that shimmers under the Moon. His strong jaw, his long nose with a slight bump, his lips that are far too inviting. The way his midnight eyelashes frame his marbled obsidian and silver eyes, entracing me without even having to blink. He’s tall, so tall that I have to crane my neck to get a full look at him, and even though he’s fully clothed, I know he’s muscled yet lean. His face has a subtle layer of hair growing on it, and he smells like the aftermath of a thunderstorm that rolled through a forest, refreshing and clean, and I don’t think in my life I have ever smelt something so divine.

  His mouth spreads into a lopsided grin, charming and perfect and Mother help me, I could look at that flawless smile until my very last breath. He reaches out with his left hand, a hand that is tattooed with blooming flowers and twisting vines that wind their way from the tips of his fingers to under the sleeve of his shirt, stopping only the gods know where.

  They’re as silver as the thick strand of hair on his head, and are glowing as bright as the stars that shine above. It takes all of my willpower to pull my attention away from them. They seem so perfect for him, so in tune with his soul, but I can’t for the life of me say why.

  His flawless, tattooed fingers graze the side of my jaw, sending a shiver down my spine as my body instinctively steps into his. The movement makes his smile grow wider, revealing every perfect, sparkling tooth hiding behind his incredible lips.

  I didn’t even realize I started smiling as well, and not a forced or half smile I have shown for the last decade, but a full one. One without hesitation, without restraint or question.

  His hand moves to my hair, his fingers cupping the side of my face as he slowly leans down and places a soft tender kiss on my cheek. A sweet burst of warmth spreads from my cheek to my soul, a simple, sweet gesture that soothes every inch of my being into such divine bliss that it feels like there's nobody but us in the world. In any world.

  My body moves without me telling it to, straight into his chest where I can feel his heart beating so in tune with mine I have to wonder if we share it. Together, one in the same.

  Mine.

  His.

  Ours.

  He leans back and meets my eyes, his swirling silver and black iris impossible to look away from. His gaze is filled with such warmth that I can feel every piece of me softening under his hold, unable to resist if I tried.

  “Hi, Bug,” he purrs, his entrancing tone the most beautiful thing I have ever heard.

  I reach up to his firm, board chest, a gesture that feels comfortable and familiar. His other hand reaches up to cover mine, the warmth prompting me to melt further.

  “I missed you,” I hear myself mumble into his glorious body, words I didn’t have to think about to say. To feel. To know.

  “You’ve always had me.” He pulls me in tight against him, removing any remaining scrap of distance between us, slowly lowering his head once more to lightly kiss my forehead, “Always.”