“Salwa,” Damien said in greeting as he opened the door.
“It’s wonderful to see you again, Damien,” she said.
A knot formed in my throat at her voice. Was I ready for this? What would we talk about? I’d never seen a therapist before. I couldn’t deny how nervous I was to meet her, to speak to her, to talk about... everything. There was no hiding it, though. I needed help, and training wasn’t erasing it, wasn’t stopping the nightmares. I’d somehow managed to avoid their clutches, but they would return. It was only a matter of time.
“Cas, this is Salwa,” Damien said, stepping aside to let her in.
She dipped her head to me, and a lock of her sable bangs slipped from behind her ear. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, mate of my lord,” she said, her voice soft.
My cheeks heated at the title. “Just, Cas. Please. It’s... nice to meet you too.”
She nudged her gold, round-framed glasses back into place on her nose, and her silver eyes nearly glowed against her dark brown skin. Her gaze swept back to Damien as he closed the door behind her, cutting off the cold air. “It’s been a while since you’ve called me for a session. How are you fairing?”
“I’m doing well,” he said, his eyes softening. “Better than I have in a while, if I’m being honest.”
“That’s wonderful,” she said as she removed her coat. The genuine feel of her happiness rushed over me like wafts of warm sunlight in the summer. Her feelings were genuine, and something about that seemed to settle my nerves, even if only a little.
She turned her gaze to me. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Cas.”
“Well, I guess who told you about me would determine whether it’s good or bad,” I said with a nervous laugh. “I’m sure if you talked to Aiden or some of the other recruits they’ll tell you how clumsy I am.”
Damien’s eyes slid to me, his brows curving inward as his lips parted. Salwa spoke first, taking my hand, and something passed over my skin, something calming and inviting.
“All good,” she assured me, the silver in her eyes so warm, it reached a deeper part of me. “I’ve been excited to meet you.”
For a moment, as we held each other’s gazes, the hesitation that had clouded my mind seemed to ebb away, bringing hope that she may not only give me the help I needed, but that I might find a friend in her. A smile crept across my face before I realized what was happening.
“I heard you came close to completing the course,” she said as we headed for the living room. She was so cheerful, and I hadn’t expected to share a casual conversation like this. I’d expected her to immediately begin dissecting my brain.
“Almost, but I couldn’t clear the final stretch of the rock wall,” I admitted.
“Gave me a fucking heart attack,” Damien added, letting out a heavy sigh.
“I was so close. I just need to figure out that last bit,” I said, almost eager to try again.
“You’re just as bound and determined as you’ve always been,” Salwa said, the smile never leaving her face.
I perked up at her statement and turned my gaze to her. “You knew me in a past life?”
She nodded, her silver eyes warm and endearing. “I did. In two of them.”
“I’ll go make some tea,” Damien said before pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Let you ladies get to know each other.”
Salwa’s eyes lit up as she rubbed her hands together before extending them toward the fire crackling in the hearth. “Oh, tea would be lovely.”
“Thank you,” I added as I settled onto the couch, and he gave me a light nod before heading for the kitchen.
“I knew Elena and Lucia,” she explained before I could ask.
“I’ve been eager for the memories to resurface,” I said, pulling my feet up onto the couch to rest my chin atop my knees. My eyes drifted to the fire flickering in the hearth. “I can’t explain it, but it’s as if a piece of me comes back every time I remember something, as if I’ve been missing something all my life.” I huffed a laugh. “That probably sounds cheesy.”
“Not at all,” she said, tilting her head to look at me.
My eyes shifted to hers, and though I wanted to believe she was just saying it to comfort me, there was nothing but genuine light in her eyes, her honesty flooding my mind with warmth.
She continued. “It’s only natural for you to seek them out. Have you had many?”
“Not as many as I’d like.”
