My heart shattered.
Who had done this to her? Who had hurt her so badly that her unconscious mind was still fighting them off? It had to be fuckingDamien. The man who left bruises on her and took forty percent of everything she earned, convinced her it was fair.
I was going to kill him. Not quickly, not mercifully. I was going to take him apart piece by piece and enjoy every second of it. But that was for later. Right now, she needed me.
I was at her bedside in three steps, reaching for her, not sure if I should touch but unable to stop myself.
“Riley.” I kept my voice gentle, steady. “Riley, wake up.”
She didn’t respond. Her hands clawed at the sheets, fighting.
“Riley.” I touched her shoulder, squeezed gently. “It’s a dream. Just a dream. You’re safe. Come back to me.”
Her eyes flew open and for a moment, she just stared at me, eyes unfocused, not seeing. Then recognition flooded her face, and she crumpled.
“Caelan.” My name came out broken, desperate. “Caelan...”
I didn’t think, just gathered her into my arms, pulling her against my chest, holding her while she shook.
“I’m here,” I murmured against her hair. “You’re safe. I’ve got you.” My arms tightened around her, and my voice dropped lower, fiercer. “Nothing’s going to hurt you. Not while I’m breathing. Whatever it was, whatever you saw, I’ll destroy it. I’ll tear it apart with my bare hands before I let anything touch you.”
She pressed closer, her fingers fisting in my shirt, and I held her tighter. Held her like I could shield her from the memories themselves. Like I could absorb her fear into my own body and carry it for her.
“I’ve got you,” I said again. “And I’m not letting go.”
Riley cried for what felt like hours but was probably only minutes.
I held her through all of it, one hand stroking her hair, the other pressed flat against her back. She was trembling against me, and I wanted to tear apart whatever caused this. Wanted to find the nightmare and destroy it with my bare hands. Hunt down every memory that haunted her and rip it from existence.
When the tears finally slowed, she pulled back slightly. Her face was blotchy, eyes red, nose running. She looked embarrassed, though she had never looked prettier than this, when she was the realest.
“Sorry,” she whispered, swiping at her cheeks. “I don’t usually... that was...”
“Don’t apologize.”
“It’s just a stupid dream...”
“It didn’t look stupid.” I took her face in my hands, tilting it up so she had to meet my eyes. “You don’t have to tell me what it was about, but don’t call it stupid. Don’t dismiss your own pain.”
She took a shaky breath. “I don’t even remember what it was. I never do. Just...” She pressed a hand to her chest. “It alwaysleaves me with this giant hole, right here, like something’s missing. Like something was taken from me and I can’t remember what.”
My wolf growled low and I barely managed to control him.
“Whatever was taken,” I said, my voice rough, “I’ll get it back for you. Whatever’s missing, I’ll fill it. I swear to you, Riley. You’ll never feel that emptiness again.”
Her breath caught at my intensity, but she didn’t pull away.
“Stay.” She whispered, and the word immediately pulled me out of my thoughts. Riley was looking at me, vulnerable and scared and so beautiful it hurt.
“What?” I grunted.
Please, goddess, tell me I didn’t just hallucinate her asking me to stay.
“Stay here. With me.” She gestured at the bed. “I don’t want to be alone.”
Yes.My heart stopped, restarted, stopped again. I could die of happiness right now and not regret a single fucking thing.
Scratch that. I would fucking regret not spending more time with her, so I probably shouldn’t die right now.
