Filled with exhaustion, Emily's eyes fluttered closed. A vision swirled through her head, entering into her dreams.
She was standing in a garden, the pearly colors of dawn all around her. Dew hung on the vines that were clinging to the low stone wall beside her, droplets of water dripping onto the moist grass at her bare feet. Soft purple morning glories grew on the vines, their faces turned toward the pale yellow sun, gently swaying in the morning breeze. A robin sang a happy blessing to the world as it spread it's wings in the cherry tree that stood in the corner of the yard, preparing for flight.
A cheerful cottage stood beside her, rose and ivy vines climbing up it's stone walls. The trim on the windows was painted a reddish burgundy and ivory curtains hung behind the panes. She was taking the sight in, reveling in the beauty when something caught her eye.
A young man stood by a back door that she hadn't noticed, watching her, his deep blue eyes capturing every detail of her face, memorizing it. The angular face was smooth and a creamy white in complexion, with a hint of pink at the sharp cheekbones. His jet black hair swished across his face, the tips of it just barely brushing his shoulder. His full lips were twisted into a gentle quirk at the corners, like they knew something, but that something was too precious to tell. Somehow, she knew him, every nerve in her body seemed to be hardwired to him, this gorgeous, smirking man.
He wore a charcoal gray shirt that clung to his chest, outlining every muscle. A dark green cloak swirled around him, clasped at his throat with an emerald pendant. His profile was lean, like a cat's. Everything about him reminded Emily of a panther.
His arms were rocking back and forth just enough to catch her attention. In them, he cradled a small baby, no more than a few months old. It was a girl swaddled in a sapphire cashmere blanket. Her blue eyes gazed adoringly up at her father, for there was no doubt of the connection. She had his eyes and delicate bones, but her hair was gold, curling into little ringlets at the bottom.
When Emily looked back up at the man, he was still looking at her, as if waiting for her to speak, but she found that speech was impossible. She could only gaze at the two in wonder, not finding any words to say. They stood looking at each other for a moment, both searching for something in the other's eyes, some kind of understanding.
A moment later, he stepped forward, his body seeming to glide over the grass. His cloak trailed behind him, exposing one woven leather sandal. In a matter of seconds, without seeming to have hardly moved, he was standing in front of her, a few footsteps away.
