Chapter 133 It's Just A Dream
Kira’s POV
I scrambled out of the bed so fast the sheets twisted around my legs and almost tripped me.
My scream ripped out of my throat like it had been waiting there the whole time…raw, ugly, the kind that hurts your own ears. “Get away from me! You’re a monster!”
Adrian’s back was still against the wall where I’d shoved him, but he was already pushing himself up, eyes wide, that confused look flashing across his face like I’d just slapped him awake from a good dream.
He got to his feet slowly, like he was trying not to spook a wild animal, and took one careful step toward me.
“Princess—”
“Stay the hell back!” I threw my hand up like I was about to punch him square in the jaw. My fingers curled into a fist, shaking. “I swear to God, Adrian, if you come any closer I can’t promise you won’t get hurt.”
At least I wasn’t alone anymore, right? I had Leah. She’d tear him apart if he tried anything. She’d kick him in the balls. Right, Leah?
Nothing.
No warm brush against my mind. No spark of fur and fury. No snappy response. Just… cold. Like someone had opened a window in my chest and let a desert wind blow straight through.
It felt… Empty.
My stomach dropped. I started pacing, barefoot on the cold floor, clutching my head so hard my nails dug into my scalp. “No, no, no…what happened? What’s wrong? Leah? Leah!”
Adrian took another step cautiously, like he was trying to sneak up on me.
That was it. I charged at him like a crazy person…naked, screaming, swinging my fists, biting at whatever I could reach, using every inch of my body as a weapon because what else did I have?
I clawed at his chest, sank my teeth into his shoulder, kicked at his shins. Wait…naked?
Why the hell am I naked?
He caught my wrists in one big hand, spun me around so fast my back slammed against his front. His other arm locked around my waist like iron.
“Calm down,” he growled low in my ear, voice steady even though I was still thrashing. “Talk to me, Kira. I’m right here. I’m yours. I’m not going anywhere and nothing’s changing that.”
I bucked against him, heart slamming so hard I could feel it in my teeth. “You’re a monster! What did you do to my wolf? Where’s Leah? Why can’t I feel her? What the hell did you do? Is this because of the dream? Did you take her away just to punish me for seeing something I shouldn’t have?”
He exhaled hard, breath hot against my hair, but he didn’t let go. “What are you talking about? It doesn’t work like that…I can’t touch your wolf even if I wanted to. Why am I suddenly a monster? What dream are you talking about?”
I kept struggling, twisting, trying to head-butt him. “Let me go! You’re the freaking monster who chased that pregnant woman through the woods to kill her! You shot that poor man with an arrow right in front of me…three more, straight through his back! I saw it! I saw you do it!”
He went still for half a second. Then a low laugh rumbled against my ear…soft, almost gentle, like he was trying not to scare me more.
“Shh, calm down. It was just a dream, baby. The only person I ever want to chase is you. And you’re never getting away from me, no matter how fast those little legs think they can carry you,” he said softly.
I was still fighting, tears burning my eyes, when he suddenly turned me around so fast the room blurred. His hands framed my face, forcing me to look up. “Look at me, Abby—”
“I’m not Abby!” I screamed it right in his face, so loud my throat scraped.
The second the words left my mouth I bit the inside of my cheek hard, tasting blood. Stupid. Stupid. Don’t let him suspect anything.
But instead of anger, a tiny spark of amusement lit his eyes. He brushed his thumb over my cheek like I hadn’t just lost my mind.
“I know,” he said softly. “I’m sorry. Kira…look at me. Even if I’m a monster, even if the whole damn world thinks I’m a monster, I would never hurt you. I would never do anything to make you sad. You’re my first priority in this whole messed-up life. Do you understand that?”
The sincerity in his voice hit me like a truck. It made my chest ache worse.
I wanted to believe him so badly it pissed me off even more. “But the dream… and Leah… I—”
He pressed one finger to my lips, gentle but firm.
“The dream is just a dream, princess. And your wolf is probably resting. You had one hell of a forced transformation back to human last night…it must’ve taken everything out of her. As soon as we get to the palace, I’ll have the doctor check you out, okay? Everything’s going to be fine. You’re going to be fine.”
He pulled me into his chest and hugged me tight, nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck like he was breathing me in.
I let him. Not because I wanted to make him feel better…his scent just… settled something in my nerves. Warm cedar and safety and him.
I must be out of my damn mind.
When he finally broke the hug I actually felt disappointed for half a second…until his hands dropped lower, grabbed my bare ass, and squeezed hard.
I yelped like an idiot, trying to wiggle free but that only made it worse.
He grinned, that cocky, wicked smile that made my stomach flip, and kissed me full on the mouth…deep, slow, like he had all the time in the world. When he pulled back I was dizzy.
When did he get this bold?
“We’re leaving this morning,” he said, voice all business now. “Go shower. Victoria will be here any minute to pack your things. I need to handle some business with the Summers before we head out. I’ll be back in an hour, tops.”
I nodded, still breathless and dazed. He turned to leave, then spun right back around and pointed a finger straight at me like a loaded gun.
“Don’t even fucking think about doing anything crazy, Kira. Don’t leave this room until I get back. I swear I will cut your legs off and customize a wheelchair that only moves when I say so.”
I shot back, sassy as I could manage with my heart still racing. “You don’t own me, you know. It’s the other way around. Leah said I own you now, so you don’t get to boss me.”
“Of course. You own me,” he laughed…deep and low…then whistled like he was checking out a car. I turned, scowling.
“What?”
“Your ass is begging me to come spank it with the way it’s wiggling when you walk like that.”
Embarrassment burned my cheeks so hot I thought I’d catch fire.
I groaned out loud, grabbed the first thing my hand touched…a heavy glass from the nightstand…and hurled it at him.
He ducked, still laughing, and I sped into the bathroom like my life depended on it.
I slammed the door shut and leaned my whole back against it, chest heaving, heart going crazy like it wanted to punch its way out.
Okay. Okay. Be still my dear heart.
Adrian was right. It was all just a dream. Just a stupid, terrifying dream and nothing more. And maybe Leah really was just resting.
She’d be back. She had to be.
I pushed off the door, walked on shaky legs to the sink, and gripped the edges with both hands. The cold marble felt real. Solid.
I turned the tap on full blast, cupped water in my palms, and slapped it onto my face…once, twice…trying to wash the nightmare off my skin.
I lifted my head and looked into the mirror.
And screamed.