She shrugged. “I plead the fifth.”
I narrowed my eyes at her.
“Eat your sandwich.”
I did as I was told, surrounded by my loving aunties, grateful for their advice. They were right. I needed to help Arric, not bust his balls.
* * *
“Isla!” Arric bellowed as he ran toward me. I turned to face him but found myself lifted off my feet and flying through the air before I could speak.
“We’re in a dre—”
“Stay down!” he growled as arrows shot over our heads.
Fear and rage poured off him reeking with the malodor of death and I knew he was dealing with a level of confusion that his brain couldn’t work out.
“Arric, breathe,” I pressed, but he covered me even more. So much so, I was having a hard time breathing myself.
“Don’t move,” he growled.
“Arric.” I slapped my hands on his cheeks and tugged on his face. “We are in a dream. None of this is real. See?” I reached my arm up, but he dragged it down.
“What the fuck are you doing, woman?” he demanded, pinning my arms to the ground.
I closed my eyes and focused, following his emotion and walking into his mind. “Arric. It’s a dream, love. Wake up.”
I was suddenly released and back in my bedroom. I sat up, rubbing my eyes as I took a few deep breaths.
Arric—
What the fuck was that?
I sighed.You were dreaming and dragged me into it.
What the fuck does that mean?
I need you to take a deep breath, then focus on me,I directed.
Isla—
Please, love. Just focus on me.
I threw back the covers and slid off the mattress, stepping over to my window and settling my forehead to the cool glass. I felt Arric breathe, and my body relaxed as he finally did.
Good, love. Keep breathing.
* * *
Arric
I’m coming to you.
As soon as I’d spoken the words in my mind, I calmed. However, it didn’t take long for me to realize I wasn’t doing shit.
Isla was.
Aye, I am.
