The Wishing Tree - Book Two [Completed]

Dreaming - Part 39

 "Where are you now?"

My eyes pop open at the sound of his voice, and my heart kicks into gear. "How are you here?" I ask, reaching out a hand to touch his beloved face. Ryan, here, in my dream. At least, I think it's my dream.

We're standing on the balcony of the Ruler's Mansion; it's my favourite one that looks out across the realm. It always used to make me feel like anything was possible when I stood there and looked out. It was also the first place that Ryan and I had a real conversation, just the two of us. We'd always run in the same circles, but we'd never sought each other out. I'd never imagined he'd be interested in me beyond the physical.

But, there'd been a lavish party at the mansion full of people from all the different groups – Vallators, Auspicators, Transporters, Sirens, Medicators and other groups that I didn't have anything to do with on a daily basis. Most of the night I watched Ryan dance with Sarah and then I decided to find my favourite balcony.

I spent hours looking at it from my bedroom window, wondering about the view. Once I found it, it was so far from the party that I was the only one there for a while. The acoustics of the mansion were such that music drifted out of the open doors and a light breeze ruffled my hair. I stood at the marble edge and looked out across the expanse of lights; it was too dark to see much else.

He came up behind me and said, "It's much prettier in the day."

And, without turning around I said, "Isn't everything?" and I'll never forget his response because it made my heart stop.

"Some things are pretty in any light."

I'd had many men tell me nice things about how I looked, but there was something about the sincerity in his voice. I knew he meant it and that was it for me. I didn't stop until I got him and I didn't intend to stop until he was mine forever in this lifetime and every one after it.

"How are you here?" I repeat, coming back to the present.

"After the keepers topped me up, suddenly I could see you. It was like the blinders had been lifted. I don't know exactly where you are or what you're doing. But, I can sense you again. It's the greatest gift anyone's ever given me." He grins at me, and his blue eyes look so vibrant that I want to cry with relief.

"You feel good?" I ask, leaning against the edge of the balcony, savoring his closeness.

He leans down and brushes his lips against mine. "I feel hopeful, for the first time in a long time." He pulls me into a deeper, longer kiss and I yearn to make it last forever. I never want this feeling to end; I never want to get used to having him like this. I always want to remember that I'm lucky, that we're lucky. My mind drifts to Mason and I pull away and rest my forehead against Ryan's.

"Do you know about Mason? About his past?"

Ryan's blue eyes meet mine, and I can see myself reflected back in his eyes. I've never looked so beautiful, and I wonder if that's really how he sees me. He sighs a little and pulls away.

"Yes, I know about what happened to Mason," he hesitates, "and you, all those years ago."

"Does it bother you?" I ask.

He frowns and lets go of me to press his palms on the balcony edge. "I'm sorry it happened to both of you. I'm sorry that he let that one moment dictate centrums of his soul's development," he says quietly. "I'm sorry he didn't have more faith in your soul." He looks out across the vista for a while. Then, when he looks at me again, there's fire in his eyes. "But, I'm not sorry that we're together. I'm not sorry that you love me. I'm not sorry that we're bonded. This bond," he touches his chest, "could kill me, and I'd never regret one moment of the way I've felt about you."

I reach for him, and his lips meet mine, eagerly absorbing all the love I pour out of me and into him. There is nothing that I wouldn't do to be with him, no obstacle I wouldn't willingly overcome. When we pull apart again, Ryan is serious as he holds my face gently between his hands. He gives me one more soft kiss before pulling away and putting his hand loosely around my waist, pulling me into the space between his legs, allowing me to see the view, while he watches me intently.

"Difficult choices are coming, Hannah," he says quietly. Tenderly, he brushes back the side of my dark blonde hair that's fallen forward to partially obscure my face.

I look from the view back to him. "More difficult than we've already faced?" I ask, more curious than afraid.

His blue eyes are piercing. "The last move in the sequence, it's always brutal, almost impossible to surmount."

"Do you know what it is?" I ask, feeling something stirring in my stomach.

"I do or I think I do," he admits. "Maizie and I have been talking about it."

"Are you going to tell me?" I ask, worry clouding my gaze.

"Queenie?"

I turn at the sound of Mason's voice. He's standing at the back of the balcony. I grip Ryan's arm harder, trying to ensure he doesn't disappear before I get my answers.

"Mason?"

"We've been trying to wake you up. We need to get a move on, but you're in pretty deep." He gives Ryan a worried look. "You need your rest. It's going to be a tough few days."

"I should go," Ryan says, leaning down and kissing me on the side of my head.

"No, not until you tell me the last move," I say, yanking him close to me again. "If you both know, one of you can tell me."

"Nobody knows anything for sure," Mason says, giving Ryan a look loaded with meaning. "There's no reason to freak her out when we have miles to go before we're home."

I look back at Ryan, but he's left me to go speak to Mason. I try to follow, but Ryan holds up his hand and shakes his head. I don't know what he's saying to Mason. He's enveloped him in a tight hug and seems to be whispering in his ear. Whatever he's saying is making Mason tense. I don't understand the bond between them. They are like two magnets and I wonder how they knew each other in another life; Mason has never said. 

Ryan releases him and pats him on the back and then he comes over to me, sweeping me into one last kiss. His lips press close to my ear as he says, "If you can't complete the last task, I won't love you any less. If it's not this life, we'll be together in another. No matter what. Always."

"Ryan!" I call out, but he's gone. I turn immediately to Mason, but he's also disappeared. The two of them are driving me a little crazy. I close my eyes and wish myself awake.

Author's Note:

What do you think will be the last piece of the sequence? What do you think Ryan told Mason before he left the balcony? 

Comment. Vote. Follow. I'd love to hear from you.