Page 26 of Thorns of Youth

She gasped like she was trying to drag air into her lungs that had forgotten how to breathe.

“Sienna?”

She didn’t respond, and it made my heart lurch.

All the rage and lust that had been burning through my veins only moments ago evaporated, leaving behind nothing but a sharp, unfamiliar panic. Or maybe it was regret.

I didn’t have time to dwell on it, though.

“Sienna, baby, look at me.”

Her eyes darted wildly, but they didn’t seem to see me. She looked terrified, trapped somewhere far away from this forest and from me, and the fact that I caused it made me feel… well, like a monster.

I turned us around so she was on top of me instead, giving her space and taking the weight of my body away from her.

“Hey… Hey, I’ve got you.” I kept my voice low and calm. “You’re okay. You’re with me.”

Her chest heaved, but she still couldn’t seem to catch her breath. I reached for her carefully, placing my palm against her cheek.

“Sienna.” I waited until her gaze flickered toward mine. Her eyes found me, but the terror in them made my chest crack. Fuck, none of this was going according to plan. “Say something,” I whispered. “Talk to me.”

TEN

SIENNA

“Sienna, say something.”

Tyran’s voice came through the fog filled with panic and memories I’d been working to forget. Five damn years and they still haunted me.

I was there again. Trapped. Alone. And scared out of my mind.

“Talk to me.”

My mouth opened, but no words came out.

Tyran’s face blurred in front of me, his features breaking apart and reforming through the haze.

His blue eyes pierced me as his warm hand came to rest against my cheek. It reminded me of another hand.