Page 88 of Ex Somnis

Ridge is there. The thread between us hums whenever I think about him. That’s the soul contract we made in the flower field, the deal, but the tether to Tessa is different. She isn’t a thread. She’s gravity.

Everything in me keeps turning toward her.

Bigger than waking life.

Bigger than fear.

Maybe that’s what love is.

Maybe that’s why it hurts so much.

Because if I’m right, she should feel it too.

“The pull between us is stronger than anything else,” I admit quietly.

Tessa’s expression softens. She reaches out and brushes a strand of hair over my shoulder. “You’re right.”

Then why are we still having this conversation?

“But I can’t give in to it.” Her hand falls away.

I grind my teeth. “Yes, the promise. Tessa, what can I…”

“It doesn’t matter.” She meets my eyes steadily. “Because I can’t change it. And you can’t either.”

“Then who can?”

“Only him.”

“And he won’t?”

She shakes her head. “He won’t.”

“Why did you even promise him anything?”

“Because I thought he could give me you. And he did. In a way.”

The saddest smile I’ve ever seen tugs at her lips, and it’s the most like her she’s looked since I found her in dreams.

I feel like crying, but before I can even decide to give in to the feeling, Lucien is just there, with his hand clamped on the back of Tessa’s neck.

I look back at her, and not for the first time, I notice the slight shift behind her eyes at the contact.

“You could be together forever if our Lenny weren’t so stubborn.” There’s something in his eyes that might be amusement, but nothing about this is funny.

“Or,” I say. “If you weren’t so stubborn, you could just let her out of the promise.”

He tilts his head, considering, like I’ve said something mildly interesting. “You still don’t understand what I’m offering. I’m doing you both a⁠—”

“Yeah, yeah.” I wave my breadstick fingers at him. “It’s perfect. I’ve been there, done that. I have the trauma response to prove it.”

That startles a laugh out of him. “You are a frustrating little thing, aren’t you?”

“Says you.”

He steps closer, and I make myself hold steady, which takes more effort than I want to admit.

He leans down, and his voice is very quiet and close to my ear when he says, “We could have so much fun together.”