The room was empty when Bryson woke up. His head hurt.
Adria had been everything he needed last night. Except it seemed even she could not chase his demons away forever. He knew that Regan couldn’t be completely driven away in one night, but having the quiet, if even for a moment, gave Bryson the hope he had been searching for.
Trying to put himself back together, Bryson went for a run.
The path was worn under him, and he tried to keep his eyes straight ahead. The morning light grew into the jungle all around him, and just as the heat started to flare on his skin, Bryson went inside.
When he came back, he turned the shower on.
“Adria?” Kaydon’s voice came into the bathroom.
“Just me, Kay,” Bryson responded.
“Why is she such an early riser all the sudden,” Kaydon said, coming into the bathroom
“She’s been having nightmares,” Seth said, behind Kaydon.
Kaydon turned. “Is that why she didn’t stick around for Rolland?”
That was news to Bryson. “Nightmares about what?”
Seth shrugged.
Bryson raised an eyebrow at him and Seth blushed. “I don’t know, okay, but if I did, I wouldn’t tell you unless she was ready.”
“Is that so?” Bryson said, his voice changing and, to Seth’s credit, his face didn’t waver.
Adria had earned Seth’s loyalty, and it was beautiful to see.
“How was your night?” Kaydon asked, putting his hand under the shower’s stream, testing the temperature.
“Helpful,” Bryson said.
Kaydon didn’t push, and Seth leaned against the far wall. Bryson could tell the two of them wanted to ask him more, but neither of them did. Instead, they just stood there. Giving him space.
Kaydon and Seth only wanted to hear what Brysonwantedto share.
A certainty fell over him. Talking to Adria had helped, and Bryson didn’t want to keep running from the two of them.
Hiding from them.
Seth and Kaydon deserved to know.
“I actually wanted to talk to the two of you,” Bryson said, his body starting to shake.
Kaydon removed his hand from the water and turned. Seth’s blue eyes met Bryson’s.
“There is no easy way to say this,” he said. “So I’m just going to come right out and say it—Regan forced me to play with him. Forced me to Dom him.” Bryson took in a shaky breath.
“And I mean some sick stuff, cattle prods, water boarding. . .”
Bryson’s voice trailed off, leaving the shower as the only sound in the room. Kaydon and Seth seemed to be holding their breath. Like if they moved, breathed even, they would break some sort of spell.
Bryson closed his eyes. “Sometimes I got off with him, got off on it. Adria says it’s normal for the body to respond, and I believe her. But it doesn’t feel like it absolves me. And the truth is I don’t feel like a safe place for the two of you anymore.”
He opened his eyes but chose to look at the floor instead. “I’m glad we have Adria, because she can fulfill your needs from now on.”
The water splashed next to him, and the room started to fill with fog.
