Haunting Shadows (Book 2)

Chapter 33

The leaves blew in a gentle wind, one that danced across my skin to a beautiful symphony – the symphony of nature. I closed my eyes as the scents, tastes, and feelings of nature surrounded me. It felt… peaceful. And just like that I knew I was dreaming. A dream that felt so real that it couldn’t be just a dream.

My eyes flew open and they darted between the trees, up through the canopy, where they rested among the birds. I half-expected to find Kalen perched upon a branch, a smirk on his face, but I saw nothing but animals and plants.

Why had I expected Kalen in the first place? He typically took me to the ballroom when he entered my dreams. Either I was just having a regular dream in which I was hyperaware, or someone else had entered my dreamscape. I was inclined to side with the latter, which pegged the question, who could be visiting my dreams?

I moved through the woods, my hands trailing the barks of the trees as I passed them. My legs stopped moving when I took in the familiar sight of a clearing that held so many regrets to me now. Tiny droplets splashed into the air as the water from the waterfall beat down into the pool below. At first glance the pool seemed empty, but every muscle in my body locked into place when his bare back came into view.

His black hair was sticking up in odd angles, water dripping from the tips. His skin gleamed in the afternoon sunlight and my breath hitched. Andreas didn’t visit dreams. I must’ve just been hyperaware in this particular dream because of the potion Natalia had given me.

I watched him, realizing how not-over him I truly was, I’d been trying to convince myself that I no longer cared for him, because he didn’t care for me, but seeing him, even in a dream, did funny things to my stomach and it was difficult for me to breath normally.

Those stray muscles flexed as he raised his right arm, brushing more water into his hair. I was fixated on his form, and yet I still hadn’t seen his eyes. This was bad, very bad. I was supposed to hate him, not dream about him. Especially not like this.

And then he turned. I though my heart stopped.

His midnight eyes found mine instantly. “Lana,” he exhaled as if he had been holding a breath for ears and was finally able to let it out again. My dreams were strange- I blamed it one whatever it was Natalia had given me to drink. What else could it be?

I stayed rooted in my sot. I had a very bad feeling that if I didn’t, this dream could head into the same territory it had last time. It wasn’t healthy for me to keep thinking about him so much. I needed to move on. I needed to get over him, not continuously see him whenever I closed my eyes. I needed to be stronger.

Andreas lifted himself from the water. Totally naked. A deep blush high-lighted my cheeks and I quickly turned away. No, not healthy at all. I fought the onslaught of images and emotions the sight of him ensued.

“Suddenly you are very shy?” his voice came from right behind me, alluring in its low timber.

I willed myself not to turn to him, but I was too curious. The water dripped from him, a towel hanging on his hips one move from falling to the ground. “I’ve always been shy,” I said, my voice quiet.

He stepped forward, reaching out to touch my face, but thought better of it, leaving his hand suspended in the air. “That’s not how I remember it.”

“In all fairness, you never really knew me.”

Pain flickered across his features and his hand dropped back to his side. “I know. I was hoping to remedy that, but you were taken from me too soon. I should’ve known that time is a luxury I never have.”