Upon a Dream: A Sleeping Beauty Retelling (Fairy Tales Reimagined Book 7) by Laura Burton & Jessie Cal

Author:Laura Burton & Jessie Cal [Burton, Laura & Cal, Jessie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Burton & Burchell LLC
Published: 2023-10-20T18:30:00+00:00

AURORA

Aurora rode toward the golden tower, its majestic presence growing larger as she closed the distance. But as she crossed the beach, Midnight slowed to a canter. The sound of crashing waves against the shore filled her with a sense of calmness, then a memory rose from within her mind.

Tristan, waist-deep in the ocean, begging her to hear him out. She couldn’t resist the pull to revisit the place where she had once unleashed a lightning bolt to jolt him awake.

She smiled at the memory as the wind whipped through her hair. She looked up at the towering castle, remembering Tristan’s nightmare. His wedding to the sea creature. Thoughts of Tristan danced through her mind, and she wondered if he was enjoying the ball. If he’d already found the future queen.

The thought stirred a bittersweet longing within Aurora, but she pushed it away.

Lost in her thoughts, Aurora found herself guiding Midnight to the castle’s garden, peering through the window into the darkened ballroom. Her imagination ran wild, envisioning the grandeur and elegance of the scene that was most likely playing in the real world. A part of her, the princess she once was, yearned for the chance to dance at a ball, to feel the exhilaration of being swept away in the arms of a prince. But that life seemed like a distant memory, a fantasy she could no longer grasp.

Turning to leave, the tolling of a bell resonated through the air, capturing Aurora’s attention. She gazed around, her eyes searching for the source of the disturbance. A twig snapped behind her, and she spun around to find a figure standing by the garden.

Tristan.

“I thought I would find you at the golden tower, trying to solve the riddle,” he said, stepping out from the shadows, the embodiment of regal charm in his royal attire.

Aurora’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, her cheeks flushing with both surprise and embarrassment. “I... um... I was,” she stammered, struggling to find the right words to explain her unexpected detour. “But... I came here... to... well, it’s silly, really.”

Tristan’s eyes sparkled. “Try me,” he urged.

Aurora hesitated. “I've always wanted to attend a ball. So, I came here to see if I could... at least imagine one. But I guess it didn't work.”

Tristan’s warm smile melted her reservations. “Perhaps I can try,” he offered, stretching out his hand to her.

Aurora waved off his offer, her cheeks turning even redder. “Oh, no,” she protested, shaking her head. “You have a real ball to attend. I couldn't possibly—”

“It won’t take long,” he insisted. “Indulge me.”

His words tugged at her heartstrings, stirring a newfound sense of hope within her. With a deep breath, she finally relented, her gaze meeting his with eager anticipation. “All right,” she conceded, dismounting Midnight.

Tristan motioned toward the ballroom, and to Aurora’s astonishment, the double doors swung open, revealing a room bathed in a soft, enchanting light. The air seemed to shimmer with anticipation as the strains of music filled the space. Aurora’s eyes widened, captivated by the beauty that unfolded before her.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.