Stars Dancing [Dreams-To-Lovers Romance]

I danced with you among stars

long before we met.

Collected Unpublished Lyrics

- Sibsil Creed, Stories of Shurwinn (2779)

RYST

"Baklava? BA-AHK-LA-AH-VAH?!" Peydran rang out.

My eyes went wide as Lirin sat a single plate on the table in front of us. There were five diamonds of baklava on it— baklavah! The five of us dove in with our forks.

"Ungh," Peydran groaned. "I lovvvvve you, Lirin. Marrry me, Lirin. Baaaklava. Baaaklava forever!"

"Mmmmmnnnggghhh," I moaned. It was nutty and chewy and honey and cinnamon and sweet. It wasn't buttery and flaky like the cooked pastry, but it was so good. And roses? "Roses, Lirin?" I sang out. Was I singing? Did I whisper it in her ear?

"You noticed," she nodded.

"Baaaklava. Baaklava," I moaned.

"Mmmm," Jerun agreed.

"So good," Denten said.

"Soooo good," I gasped out. Baklava. Baklava. I wanted to throw away my fork. I wanted to grab the baklava off that stars forsaken plate and shove it in my mouth.

"More baklava," I groaned. "More!" I wanted more! I needed more!

Peydran groaned.

"It's a baklava orgy," I rasped aloud.

Everyone laughed.

PEYDRAN

Baklava orgies should be illegal. It was obscene. My chef had to get the recipe. I'd eat raw baklava everyday for breakfast. Covertly, I sent a command from the relay in my brain to my pad and sent a message to Lirin requesting the baklava recipe for Chef Amran.

Aloud, I asked, "Okay, Ryst. What're we doing? How're we doing this? Asking questions, or just trying to zap me?"

Ryst stared at me. Actually, she pointedly stared at my forehead. Like a creepy zombie. A quiet, creepy brain-eating zombie who thought I was tastier than baklava.

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Lirin and Denten got dreamy looks on their faces and closed their eyes, smiling. They swayed like trees in the breeze. Holy sands, it was weird. It was worse than the baklava orgy. It was quiet except for the sound of breathing.

Ryst reached out and grabbed my Tindin Teacher Jerun's arm. He looked down at her hand on his arm, and then HE started smiling and closed his eyes. All four of them had their eyes closed and sat there smiling. It totally creeped me out.

Focus. I was supposed to be doing something. Jerun was there, and that was a new variable. Jerun was there, but it was totally creepy. Everyone was silent. Jerun was there and that was a new—

Peydran? I felt it, it wasn't audible, but I felt it in my mind, like a whisper. My eyes closed.

Ryst? I could feel Jerun. Not hear him, but I felt him. Matter of fact. Spar with Jerun, you got factual movement. Solid. I opened my eyes and gasped.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Everyone looked around. Ryst smiled, "It worked!"

"What worked?" I asked.

She frowned, "You heard, right, Peydran? You heard? I heard you."

"Yeah, yeah, I heard— no no, I didn't hear. I felt. It was a feeling. And I could feel Jerun. Solid. Like sparring with him."

I started to understand what Ryst meant about her dreams. How it was like a voice, but you didn't really hear it, you just knew what it was saying to you. "So, what happened? Why did it work? Did Jerun do something?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. It was like I could see this black river blocking me, and I sort of well, I held onto Jerun, and then I could slide around it? Maybe?"

"Do it again; do it again, Ryst."

"Peydran," Jerun suggested, "Why don't you try to block us? Like it's a form, but with your mind. Use a form to block us. Okay?"

I nodded and closed my eyes, "Let's dance, Ryst."

I couldn't help smiling. It was brain against brain. We were gonna spar like the devil himself was watching. Hit me, Ryst, come at me big sister! Let's dance! Nothing. For a long time, nothing.

Oh wait, I was supposed to be actively doing something. No, not sending commands to my pad or drones or augment. I was supposed to block Jerun and Ryst. He'd said to use a form to block them.

Okay, Jerun, dearest Master, how do you like this form? My elbow in your throat? How does that feel, old man? You gonna take it lyin—

Peydran! It's working!

Ryst! Jerun! I could feel Jerun. Just solid. Not doing anything. Not saying anything. Just solid. Ryst was there. I felt her in my belly. It was so warm and so— no, holy, bloody, fuck balls— NO! Horror rippled out of me.

I looked up at Ryst, but not with my real eyes. They were closed. It was just the inside, mental me looking at the mental her. I was hard. Fuck no! I was turned on!

Ryst was completely calm and matter of fact. It's okay, Peydran. It's just a mystical force of nature. I feel it too.

I could tell. It did not want to know that Ryst had the female equivalent of a hard on. Horror. Total horror.

What. The. Sands. Ryst. I spat out. I was furious. Furious at my body. I DO NOT want this.

I know, Peydran. It's not really sexual. It's just our bodies trying to figure out what to do with the mystical force of nature. Jerun. She thought about Jerun. He was sitting right next to her. We were in a room full of people. I could feel Jerun with Ryst. He was unconcerned. He didn't think there was anything sexual going on. He was just solid. It was just like a sparring match to him.

Okay. I could do that. It was like sparring. It got heated, and my body was confused. I shook my imaginary head. Decision made.

Okay, Ryst, what do we do next?

Well, if it isn't actually sexual, what do we think it is?

I'm not the mystical one here. I'm the programmer.

So, send a command.

Right. The situation required a command. What do I want to do? Body, calm down. Let go of desire. Not working. Ryst could tell. I could feel her and Jerun. They could tell everything I was thinking and feeling.

I have an idea, Ryst suggested. I knew what she meant; she didn't even have to say it.

Hell no. Neither of us wants that, Ryst!

I know that, you know that, but our bodies need to get the message. If we act on it— I'm consenting, Peydran. You can try it. I know it is insane.

Okay. I moved like I was going to come onto her. Bleckkkk. I pulled away. I felt her laugh. Jerun was just there. Solid. Not a problem to him.

Alright, I'll try too. I know it's so gross Peydran. Want me to try?

It was sparring, right? Like me and my best friend were sparring. That's all. She sort of mentally moved like she was going to straddle me—

Ick, I can't— gross, Peydran. I just can't.

We laughed. The arousal was 100% gone.

RAGING AGONY. RAGING AGONY in my belly. Longing, pain, grief, rage! It was worse than the hospital. It was every dark day. It was every longing. It was every lonely moment I had ever known. All. At. Once. Pain ripped through my guts.

I fled from Ryst's mind. She and Jerun had felt it all. Jerun's real hand was on my real back. My forehead was on the table, my arms on top of my head. I gasped for air.

Everything inside me hurt. Why was I alone? How could I find a man to love me? I wanted love, deep love, the truest of loves. Need. Longing. Belonging. I wanted someone to belong to.

I slowed my breath. I was in command. I had reasons. I was in charge. I raised my head, but my eyes were still closed.

"Why, Jerun? Why is it like this? What is wrong with our world? How can it possibly hurt this bad? Why are we all alone?" Jerun took something out of his pocket, raised my right hand, put something in it, and closed my fist around the something.

I opened my eyes. His back was to me, walking away from me, and he left the house. Lirin and Denten stood up and left the room. Ryst looked at me then stood up and left the house.

I opened my hand and looked down at four small bead bags. Purple. Silver. White. Black.

Laughter. Laughter poured out of me, and I couldn't stop. Tears and laughter. Rage and longing and pain and ridiculousness. It was all absurdity. Absurd. All of it. Everything. My hand. The augment. Ryst's powers. Us mentally trying to have sex. Our bodies confused. Desire for my true partner. Who wasn't a woman.

Absurd. The whole thing was absurd. It hurt. It was ridiculous. Everything was nonsense and always had been. I was a Blacker now. I had pushed through every obstacle. Honed my mind and body into a blade. I had risen so high. And it didn't even matter!

I'd had reasons, and they were stupid. Everything was so stupid. All the time. Absurd. It was all absurd.

I had an idea.

I grinned.

** This story is free to read on RoyalRoad.com **

If you are reading this on another site it is a pirated copy. If you enjoy the story please read it on RoyalRoad.

You can find the official updated story here: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/122374/stars-dancing-dreams-to-lovers-romance