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I will survive this.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

BRYN

The familiar chill finds me . . .

A touch of cold across my cheek, crawling downward, whispering against my neck, stopping once it reaches my chest.

Pressure builds as the cold moves inward, tearing through muscle and bone, piercing my heart. My pulse slows as it spreads down my arms and legs, the control I have over movement slipping.

When I hear the buzzing begin, the panic sets in.

What starts as a dull whine turns into a symphony of ringing, with high-pitched notes and a faint roar.

I try to draw air into my lungs, but they only fill with water.

I’m in water?

No . . . I’m underwater.

The roaring grows louder, like a great beast is trying to find me, but I am lost to it.

The beast knows I am going to die . . . that there are only moments left.

Then comes the stillness.

The quiet peace between life and death.

Until a sharp pull seizes my chest, my body jerking upward as Death’s hands find me.

Now I’m breaking through the surface . . . my lungs gasping for air⁠—

A hand covered my mouth as a sharp wind snapped a wall of cold around me.

I ripped my eyes open, fighting against the hold on me, but calmed as I heard his voice against my ear.

“It’s me . . . it’s Leo,” the king whispered, calmly quieting me.

The length of his strong body pressed against me from behind, while my eyes adjusted to the dark of night.

“You’re okay,” he soothed, “you’re safe. You were having a nightmare. I didn’t think you’d want the others to hear.”

I nodded, and he slowly removed his hand from my mouth.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice broken.

Fresh sweat pebbled across my forehead. It had been one of the usual nightmares that plagued me back home.

I thought I might’ve escaped them by being so far away, but clearly not.

Leo started to move his body away from mine, but I reached back, grabbing his hip to stop him. I couldn’t see his face, but I heard his breath catch.

The dream had felt so real this time I didn’t want him to leave my side.

“Stay,” I whispered, desperation in my voice. I didn’t want to be alone, and I didn’t care how weak that made me right now.

Leo didn’t say anything in return, only sank back fully against me, sliding one arm underneath my head, the other wrapping across me, pulling me in close.