Chapter 16
The gryphons were attacking me again.
That night, I was sucked into another nightmare--and this time, Ramsay and Colton weren’t around to save me from it.
In the dream, the gryphons didn’t come from the sky, but on the ground through the trees. Eric’s guards weren’t around to stop them. They marched right up to the glass house, peering inside with their sharp yellow eyes, all seeking me.
I was alone. I hid under Eric’s desk, which was strangely clean in my dream, but it didn’t save me. A gryphon saw me. He thrust his talons through the glass, shattering it, and grabbed me. It didn’t listen to my screams. The other gryphons gathered around. Dread swallowed me whole.
They shook me and I screamed again.
“Matheson!”
It wasn’t until I heard Eric yell my name that my eyes snapped open. I shot up, sweat plastered to my skin and panting heavily. My body trembled.
It took me a moment to remember where I was. Everything was dark,sodark. With the blinds drawn, the room was pitch black. I could barely see Eric in front of me. His eyes were wide with fear.
“Were you having a nightmare?” he asked.
My heart slowly calmed down. I swallowed, finding my throat dry, and nodded.
“Are you okay?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. My voice sounded rough to my ears.
Eric frowned. “Let me get you some water.”
He came back with a glass that I downed in two big gulps. Now that the imagined danger had passed, my heart was returning to its normal speed. My eyes had adjusted to the darkness as well, at least enough to clearly see Eric. His brow was knitted in concern.
“Matheson, you were moaning in your sleep,” he said. “You sounded terrified.”
I grimaced, remembering the mental images that plagued me. “I was.”
“What happened?”
“Just another nightmare. I’ve been having them since the whole prophecy thing started.” I sighed. “They’re probably just stress related. I don’t think they mean anything.”
Eric paused. “Did you have these nightmares at Ramsay’s house?”
“Um. I did once or twice,” I admitted. “I think they mostly stopped when we started sleeping in the same bed or--”
“Or what?”
Heat flooded my face. I looked down at the blanket. “Or when we had sex beforehand.”
“I see,” was Eric’s thin reply.
He got up and headed for the door. I panicked, worrying that I’d upset him somehow.
“Where are you going?” I demanded.
“To get my pillow.”
“To get your--oh.”
It only took a moment for Eric to grab it and return. He placed it next to mine with a few inches of space in between and sat down on the opposite side of the bed.
“Is this okay?” he asked.
