Page 26 of These Deadly Dreams

Anger floods my system, a rushing inferno that takes over all rational thought. All I can think of is the threat posed to my Shield, and I need to protect him. The chocolate cake falls to the ground, the plate shattering on the marble floor. Guilia and Kai whip their heads in my direction, and Kai’s eyes widen.

“Fuck,” he says. “Ellis, it’s not …”

He trails off as I march forward. I can’t see my face, but I can guess my expression is pure thunderclouds. Cade grabs my arm, and I whirl around and shove him with my free hand. I’m so angry, I don’t even realize he flies across the hall and slams into the opposite wall with a grunt.

I turn to face the reason for my anger. Her blue eyes are wide as she watches me stalk forward. She swallows and takes a step closer to Kai.

I grin. “Wrong choice.” My fingers tingle, then burn. I raise one arm, a finger pointed directly at Guilia’s chest. Violet light, Cade’s magic, dances over my skin.

Kai steps in front of me, hands raised. “Ellis, baby girl, calm down. Don’t do anything you’ll regret later.”

I meet his eyes. They shine so brightly as he looks at me. When he places his hand over his chest, a subtle reminder of our connection, my anger slips away.

“She’s not worth it, baby girl. Let it go.”

Cade’s magic disappears, leaving me feeling cold. The inferno in my veins evaporates, and I shudder. Kai steps forward to wrap me in his arms, but before he touches me, the ground shakes under our feet. An explosion pierces my eardrums, and bits of dust and rock fall from the ceiling.

Kai knocks me to the ground, covering me with his body while also keeping my head from smacking against the floor. My ears ring and I blink the dust from my vision.

“Are you okay?” he breathes.

I nod my head, unable to find my voice.

He hops up and pulls me to my feet.

“That came from the ballroom,” Cade says as he slides to a stop next to us.

Down the hall, smoke curls from around a corner, and debris from the ceiling and walls is scattered in the hallway.

Guilia is staring wide eyed from her knees on the floor. “What was that?” she asks in a voice that sounds like ringing bells.

Before anyone can answer her, another explosion rocks the estate. I cover my ears as Kai grabs my waist to keep me balanced on the shaking ground.

“What the fuck?” Kai growls.

“Sterling!” I grab Kai’s arm and look at him. My heart races in my chest. “Was he in the ballroom?”

“Shit,” he mutters. “Cade, get her back to the library, I’ll go find Sterling.”

Before any of us can move, Sterling tears around the corner in his wolf form. He doesn’t appear to be injured and I relax knowing all my guys are safe and with me. When he reaches us, he shifts in the blink of an eye, silver wolf turning into a giant naked man. I notice Guilia behind him staring wide eyed at my mate, and I glare at her.

“It’s Sam,” Sterling says, drawing my attention back to him. “He’s taken down the wards around the estate and blew holes into the ballroom. His men are infiltrating as we speak.”

“Son of a bitch!” Kai yells. He grabs my arm and yanks me in the direction of the library. “Sterling, scout outside. Make sure it’s safe for us to leave and bring my Charger around. Cade, grab everything you think we’ll need technology wise. I’ll grab the weapons.”

Behind us, Guilia shouts for us to stop, but no one spares her any mind. When we get to the library, Kai tosses Sterling his keys, and he dashes outside and shifts back into his wolf. Cade and Kai grab bags and shove weapons and tech into them, while I stand in the middle of the library and shake.

Sam blew up the estate. He probably killed a bunch of people, just to get to me. We thought I was safe here, but I’m not. Where can we go that he won’t find us? Will I ever be safe again?

Kai’s eyes pop into my vision. Red encroaches on the gray and his fangs have descended, his body’s reaction to the threat against his beloved. “Hey, it’s okay. Your heart is racing, Ellis. You need to calm down. We’re going to get you out of here. You know we’ll never let him get his hands on you again.”

I try to calm my heart, but I can’t. The fear is too real. Sam is here, right now. He can walk through that library door any moment and my entire world would come crashing to the ground. How do I just calm down?

“Shit, Cade she’s starting to panic, and it’s making me panic. I can sense her emotions, and my heart is racing in time with hers.”

“We don’t have time for you both to panic. Get it under control, Kai.” Cade slaps the back of Kai’s head. “Did you get the weapons? Sterling has the Charger ready.”

Kai swallows. “Yeah,” he says. His chest is rising and falling as rapidly as mine.

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