Page 128 of Gift from the Tree

“I’m sorry. I thought you’d be asleep,” he says as his face turns bright red.

“That doesn’t answer my question,” I tell him, placing my hand on my hip.

Knowing he’s caught, he sighs and hangs his head. “I’ve been sleeping out here every night since you’ve been back.”

“What? Why?”

“Just like you, we all have emotions involved in this process. Yours are just ten times stronger than ours, and ours are more territorial, possessive, protective. All of which are basic instinct for my shifter side, and he goes fucking nuts when I try to lie in my bed. So I wait until I know you won’t come out and come lie out here. It’s close enough to you that it gives him the illusion I’m protecting your door,” he rants in a clutter of word vomit, not looking at me the entire time.

“Draken.” I reach out and cup his cheek, turning him to face me. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“’Cause it’s embarrassing as fuck and I didn’t want you to think I was pushing you. I was fine out here,” he admits honestly. The sincerity in his eyes shows me he means that. He didn’t want to seem like he was making me do something I wasn’t comfortable with.

“I was coming to ask if you would hold me. Just hold me. I’d really like you and your dragon to protect me from my nightmares.” I invite him in gently, stepping back a little toward my door. He doesn’t need to be embarrassed for needing me because I need him.

“I’d love that, little wanderer,” he breathes.

Walking back into my room, I crawl into my spot as Draken takes his shoes off and crawls into his. As soon as his arms wrap around me, we both sigh in relief, followed by us busting out laughing.

“These hormones are seriously something, Draken. I didn’t even get in the bed after my bath. I walked straight to my door,” I tell him as we both continue falling apart laughing.

“I lay in front of your door…within ten minutes…of you saying you were taking a bath and going to bed. We’re pitiful.” He manages to get out through his chuckle.

Wiping the tears from my eyes, our laughs begin to simmer down, and I turn my head to look at him. His face is relaxed, with a small smile still lingering on his lips, giving off an air of peaceful bliss. My dragon, my sweet Draken. He’s been so amazing to me from the moment I woke up with him beside me in this bed my first few hours here.

“Thank you, Draken, for being here for me. I know we’ve been strained since what happened, but it means a lot to me that you’ve been so open with me and have respected my boundaries. It means everything to me.” I completely flip the switch from playful to serious.

“If I could change the way you found out, I would in a heartbeat, but at the same time, I’m thankful for the time we had together before you knew. I’m thankful you got to know me without knowing you were my Primary. I don’t know if that would’ve changed the way you treated me and saw me, and I guess I’m a little selfish to be grateful for getting to know you without the pressure of the future hanging over us.”

When he puts it like that, it’s hard to disagree. If I had known from the beginning, I wouldn’t have let him so close. The thought then of spending my life with not one but four men would’ve scared me to death, and I never would’ve let him in as much as I did. I wouldn’t have run like Corentin said, but in turn I would’ve been the one keeping my distance from them.

“I don’t think I would change it,” I whisper. “I’m still mad about it, but you’re right to wonder how I would’ve acted because I know I would’ve been scared to death. I wouldn’t have let you in, and that thought hurts to think about now.” I clear my throat and raise my voice to a normal level.

“I would’ve avoided the other three at all costs. I guess with them it’s easier now to be willing to get to know them because I know they don’t hate me like I assumed. They were protecting me in their own way, but you…with you I felt like a moth to a flame. I didn’t want to be away from you. You felt like a ray of sunshine bursting through the dark cloud that was my life. I’d regret it now if I had pushed you away then.”

He cups my cheek and lays a sweet, gentle kiss on my lips. “I’m gonna spend forever with you.”

Closing my eyes, a smile, lingering on my lips. I bathe in the comfort of him and drift right to sleep.

Twenty-Seven

Willow

Something’s wrong.

Sitting straight up in my bed, it’s pitch-black and Draken’s snoring softly beside me. The tugging in my chest where my bond lies is consuming me, flooding every one of my senses. Overpowering emotions of determination, fear, and loss overwhelm all my own emotions and that’s all I can feel.

Jumping out of bed, I run for the door, leaving it open as I sprint down the hall. Taking a right toward the other three rooms, I follow the pull in my chest until I come up to the lone door on the left side. Not knowing who’s in there or what’s going on, I crash through the door, coming to a stop as I watch Tillman thrash around in his bed.

Tears flow down his cheeks, his hair is sticking to his face with sweat, and he’s repeating no over and over. Suddenly, he sits straight up, reaching his hands out, and bellows my name. My body reacts faster than my mind, propelling me forward to his bed until I’m straddling his lap.

“Tillman, it’s me. It’s Willow. I’m right here. Please wake up. Till—” The air is knocked out of me as he flips us over, wrapping his hands around my throat, and begins to squeeze. Panic surges through me as I stare into his eyes. His stunning shade of green is clouded, unfocused. Whatever nightmare he’s having still has its claws in him.

Letting my body go limp, I run my hands up and down his arms, trying to soothe the beast that’s breaking out of him and bring my gentle giant back to reality.

“Till-man…it’s… Willow…” I choke out as his hands continue to cut off my air supply. Calling on my elements, I try to shove him off, but it’s not working. I’m not trying, in my mind at least, to intentionally hurt him, but apparently, my fucking bond and elements think otherwise.

Fuck, this was a mistake. I shouldn’t have tried to wake him like this.

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