Chapter 1594

They stood in a circle, just as they had in the waking world, but the forest was gone, replaced by stars. Infinite stars above and beneath, like they stood in the palm of the universe itself. The sprout, now a towering tree, stood at the center, its blossoms opening to release lights - dozens, hundreds, tiny glowing spirits that drifted down into each of the women's bodies.

They glowed brighter.

And then the dream shifted.

They saw themselves - months from now. Walking hand in hand with glowing children. Boys. Girls. Laughing. Running. Wild and free and beautiful. Their eyes held stars. Their skin shimmered like dew. They were not human.

They were island-born.

And they were theirs.

Jude woke first, tears already on his face.

Lucy stirred next, then Rose. Then Emma.

None of them spoke at first. They just looked at one another.

And they knew.

The time was coming.

Their family was growing.