Theo looked on in horror as the figure turned and approached Olivia. He beat frantically against the magic, but it held firm.
Olivia looked up as the figure knelt in front of her. Her eyes widened in recognition, and a pain-filled cry left her lips. “NO!”
The killer reached out, fingers skimming the side of her face, and she tried to pull her face away from the unwelcome touch, but the hound bit down harder, making her cry out in pain.
Suddenly the killer strode back to the blackened tree that was now bathed in the sooty orange glow of the burning star. With his hand outstretched, he pressed his palm to the bark. A great splintering sound suddenly filled the clearing, causing the killer to step backward. The tree cracked down its center and split outwards, filling the cold night air with the acrid smell of sulfur and brimstone.
A blackened figure began to painstakingly claw its way out of the carcass of the ruined tree. Its naked skin was raw and red, and appeared to be male. He crawled onto the fresh snow, which hissed and melted as his overheated skin touched it.
Slowly the figure climbed to its feet, eyes glowing red in the darkness. Seemingly unconcerned with his nakedness, he stood and surveyed the carnage of the clearing, eyes narrowed with interest. The symbol of the dual serpents was carved into the flesh of his chest, directly over his heart. He stalked slowly toward Olivia and the hellhound sank his teeth further into Olivia’s neck, dragging her to her knees like a rag doll.
The naked man reached down and stroked the hound’s mangled fur as it dropped Olivia at his feet, a dog presenting its master with its favorite toy. If it had a tail instead of a skeletal stump, it probably would have wagged it.
The naked being turned his attention back to Olivia, lifting her face and studying it intently. His fingers wrapped around her throat and squeezed as he dragged her to her feet, lifting her so her toes scraped against the ground. She clawed at his hand and fought for a breath, but he merely tilted his head and studied her.
“So, you like to play with fire, do you, Olivia West?” His voice was deep and amused.
A shiver of cold, hard dread rolled down Theo’s spine. He knew that voice.
The naked man’s skin started to ripple before suddenly bursting into flames. The fire traveled up his arm to the fist that held Olivia tightly. Her skin began to smoke and blacken beneath his touch.
Theo screamed and beat his fists against the shield, shattering his bones with the force of his blows. Blood poured from the wounds and pieces of tattered flesh hung from the wreckage of his hands, but he didn’t falter, all he could see was his woman burning.
Theo woke with a great shuddering gasp, trying desperately to drag air into his starving lungs. He reached out blindly for Olivia and was met with cold, empty sheets. Sitting up with a start, his gaze swept the room. She was nowhere to be seen. Pulling the tangled sheets off his body, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and fumbled for his jeans, tugging them on even as he moved to the window. His heartbeat settled slightly when he saw it was still cold and damp outside, not a hint of snow in sight. The pale morning sun sat high in the sky and the world was still.
He’d ended up back in her bed the night before although they’d done nothing more than sleep. Olivia was reluctant to define their relationship, insisting the day before that the most sensible thing was for them to remain nothing more than friends, but they both knew that wasn’t going to happen. No matter their intentions, they just seemed to naturally gravitate toward each other.
Nothing had ever felt more right than having Olivia’s body curved protectively into his larger frame as he wrapped her in his arms while they both slept. She was still wary of him, but it was almost like her mind was at war with her heart. She wasn’t sure of him, but he also knew there was a part of her that trusted him enough that she could sleep peacefully in his embrace.
He cast his gaze down to where Olivia usually parked her car and saw it wasn’t there. Frowning, he headed downstairs, double-checking the rooms as he went.
She definitely wasn’t in the house. Cursing lightly, he headed into the kitchen and spotted a note on the counter.
Didn’t want to wake you. Heading into town to see Erica, back soon.
Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he scrolled through to her number and let it ring, the last vestiges of the nightmare still clinging to his thoughts. He couldn’t get the image of Olivia burning. It wasn’t the first time he’d had this particular dream since he’d been pulled forward in time, but it was the clearest it had ever been.
“Hey,” Olivia greeted him as the call connected. Every nerve in his body relaxed. “I thought you’d be out longer. You were sleeping like the dead when I left.”
“You should have woken me,” he grumbled.
“Theo, I doubt an entire brass band in the room could’ve woken you this morning.”
He could hear the smile in her voice. “Are you okay?” he asked, unconsciously rubbing the phantom pain in his chest.
“I’m fine.” Her voice softened. “I’m at Erica’s office now, just waiting for her to finish with her client.”
“Alright, call me when you’re done.”
“I will,” she replied. “Stop worrying.”
“An impossible task, I fear,” he answered absently, noticing a shadow at the front door. He stepped closer and looked through the peephole.
He swung the door open to the sight of Jake on porch, a small package tucked under one arm.
“Look, I’ll be fine,” Olivia told him confidently. “I’ll be back by lunch.”
“Very well, I will see you at lunch then.” Theo hung up stepping aside to let Jake step inside.
