Stars Dancing [Dreams-To-Lovers Romance]

SHAH

"You made it," our new friend Bill said as we climbed aboard the hover bus.

"Wouldn't miss it," I smiled back at him and his wife, Steph. Euri and I sat across the aisle from them, and the bus pulled out for our Life And Death tour of Egyptian mythology just a day before the winter solstice of Earth. We flew past the Pyramids of Giza, and then over the Nile to less populated Philae Temple of Isis where we got to see an ankh in real life. It was practically the sigil of Euri's Aunt Ryst, so getting to see where it originated thousands of years ago was amazing, and the Temple itself was something to behold.

Well, the whole Egyptian experience was otherworldly, and not just because we were on a new sphere. All of the ancient ruins were so old that it was unfathomable for me and Euri. I mean, his sphere had only been colonized 400 years ago, so Egypt felt like something that shouldn't exist.

I didn't know enough of the history of my parent's worlds to have anything to compare it to. My grandparents had struggled to find the history of the troubadours, after all, so yeah, Egypt was amazing, and the Life and Death tour was so well done.

Bill and Steph invited us to have dinner with them at the end of the day, and we accepted. While we were enjoying an outdoor meal along the Nile, our new friends told us they were going west on the hover train for a Macabre Morocco tour— a sort of horror ghost story tour of an old civilization.

"Morocco?" Euri asked. "Morocco. What a nice word; such a nice ring to it! You like doing odd tours, eh?"

"It's a great way to get to see new places, with an interesting spin, and meet quirky people. Like the Orient Express Scavenger Hunt," Steph explained.

"I'm loving Egypt too much to leave already, but maybe we can do it, Euri? Morocco? How far is it?"

"Not too bad by train. Half a day."

We wished them a happy trip and thanked them for the dinner. It wasn't something I was used to doing— spending time with people, getting to know them, but Euri seemed to really enjoy the couple.

We got a porter back to our villa and collapsed. We hadn't slept much at all the night before, then had spent the whole day on tour, so we were out in seconds.

Cold wind woke me up shivering because I was bare to my waist. "Sands!" Euri called out, jumping up to shut the window shutters. Then he stopped and breathed in.

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Oh Friend of mine, friend divine, calm yourself. All is well.

He said it in my mind, but it was like a song. I pulled the blankets up around my chin against the chill night air. Slowly, Euri breathed in, and the wind calmed. He climbed back into bed.

"Brrr. Sorry that took so long. I'm not really used to controlling it. . . ." he said, wrapping his cold body around mine under the covers.

"Do you think it's normal wind, Euri? Or is it something else?"

"I have no idea. I've lived my whole life on one sphere. Then I left Shurwinn, and now everywhere we go we have these strong winds. Do you think it's normal? I mean, your grandparents house . . . that was in another galaxy . . . was that normal, Shah?"

I tried to think. Yeah, autumn at Nanna and Poppie's. High winds whipping the kitchen curtains was normal. But otherworldly laughter and flickering lights weren't. Euri caught my thoughts and nodded against my neck.

"But Euri, Ryst said at Delphi that they wouldn't keep doing it. It's too risky. I mean, if Dad hadn't stopped it, clouds only know what kind of earthquake could've happened. So, maybe it isn't Ryst and Nayth tonight? What did it feel like?"

He went completely still, and I felt his mind focus.

It just feels like wind. Nothing particular. I don't know enough about weather patterns to be able to say anything more. I just feel it. It's all over the sphere. Sometimes stormy, sometimes gentle, sometimes not even really there.

Did you hear her, Shah? Ryst? When she said we had to live our own lives? Back in Delphi?

I heard, Euri. I'm not sure what that means, though. She seemed to really want to tell us that. Does it mean something to you?

I think we just gotta decide what we want to do for ourselves, and let Ryst and Nayth do their thing wherever they are. I like playing with the wind and matchmaking. You wanna do it again?

Mmm. Hmm. Maybe that can be our thing. I bet we'll be really good at it.

Yeah. We're so good together, Shah. I love you.

I love you too, Euri.

He tucked himself tighter against my back, and I felt him drift off.

I let my mind quest out. There he was, my twin. I didn't have to say anything. Cyn was asleep on his chest. He knew Euri was asleep wrapped around me. Ronnie was content and happy.

I sent the feeling to him of how much I loved him, and I felt his love in return. Then I joined Euri in oblivion.

Ummm.

There were hands on my belly, and one went up while the other went down.

Ummm, I agreed. He lifted my leg and slid in. Ahhh. Ummmm.

We crested and fell.

There was a golden light before us. We went into it. It was brighter than any light should be, but calm and quiet. Peace. Everything was peace and stillness. I felt Euri. Wrapped around me and within me. The two of us in bliss, happiness, and perfect quiet peace.

All around us was soft golden light. But we weren't alone.

Euri shook me. My eyes opened.

"Sorry," he apologized. "I felt them. Ryst and Nayth were both there, Portia. I didn't want another earthquake. You okay, baby?"

I nodded, sleepy, drowsy, and content. I turned over and put my head against Euri's heart. We drifted, but not into golden light, just into the peaceful stillness of early morning as the sun barely lit the sky.

Buzz. It's was Ronnie's tone.

Euri picked up the pad, and flicked open a message. A photo of Ronnie and Cyn in front of a beautiful cathedral. There was a city highlighted: Prague.

"Wanna go to Prague, Shah?"

"That's basically an invitation from Ronnie, so I say, 'Hell yes!' We'd better not turn them down. Is there a hover train, or should we fly?"

"You order breakfast and start packing us up. I'll make the travel arrangements."

"Prague, here we come."