Verum (The Nocte Trilogy 2)

I tried. But when I do, nonsense comes.

Lies.

But I nod, because what else can I do?

They need me to figure this out.

Olivia is lost.

And so am I.

This can’t be real.

Dreams aren’t real.

“Your dreams are,” Sabine tells me. “Dreams are your mind’s way of leading you to the light. Follow it, Calla.”

The only thing I follow is Dare. He comes to get me and we walk the halls, and we stroll through the gardens and we make our way to our spot.

The secret garden,

Our place.

The angels stare at us with empty eyes, and I sag into Dare.

He’s so warm,

So strong, so strong,

So real.

“Is this happening?” I ask him. “Because sometimes, I can’t tell the difference.”

He tilts my head back with his thumb, lifting my face to the sky. His eyes claim me, stroke me, ignite me.

I fold into his palms,

And he holds me up.

“I’m real,” he says into my hair. “You’re real.”

We’re standing in the sun,

There’s no reason to be afraid.

Right?

Dare kisses me and his lips are sunlight. He touches me and his fingers are the moon. It’s night somewhere, and by night we are free.

We come together like the stars,

Beneath the shelter of the gazebo.

Away from sight,

Away from everything.

Just us.