Page 100 of Shadows in Bloom

“You don’t remember,” I whisper blankly.

Her eyes search mine with palpable fear. “I was in my bed.” Her voice thickens with tears. “I…I was dreaming. Having a nightmare. Then-then it all went white and...” She glances around. “And now I’m here.” Her lashes flutter, her body swaying.

Her eyes find mine once more, wide with something akin to apology just as she stumbles forward a step. Hand outstretched toward me, she opens her mouth to say something?—

“Kneel,” a voice booms.

We both drop as if someone cut our strings.

Eyes wide, we stare at each other.

The thing inside me…

No, inside us both, I realize…

It—she chuckles knowingly. “Good girls.”

Ophelia’s face bunches, telling me she heard that too.

Less than a foot separates us, and despite how confused and even angry I am—how betrayed I feel as images and phantom sensations from last night flash through my head and ripple over my body…

I ache to bridge the distance. Go to her.

But I can’t move.

She doesn’t remember…

And then it really hits me?—

Because it wasn’t her…

Bile sears a path up my throat as my vision slants, my heart dropping somewhere in my sloshing stomach.

I will fear no evil, for You are with me, I pray silently. Yet knowing it’s futile now.

“Now then,” the demon possessing us says ominously, “the fun can really begin.”

ABOUT JESSIE WALKER

Jessie Walker is an indie author of queer love stories based out of Scranton, Pennsylvania, where she lives with her long-time partner and fur-spawn. Drawn to all things dark and twisted, she likes to pretend she's not the hopeless romantic at heart that she is. She has ADHD and a background in psychology/mental health services, both of which contribute greatly to her storytelling and the themes of her long-winded, character-driven works. When she's not drudging away at a keyboard, there's a very good chance you'll find her vegged out on her couch, listening to sad '90s grunge, and daydreaming about all the stories crowding her brain.

Find all Jessie’s links: https://linktr.ee/authorjessiewalker

ALSO BY JESSIE WALKER

The Shilohverse

Where There’s A Will (Lost Boys, #1)

If There’s A Way (Lost Boys, #2)

Still Beating (Lost Boys, #2.5)

Little Bird Lost (Aviary, #1)

All We Are (A Lost Boys Pride Novella)

Every Breath After: Part One (Lost Boys, #3)

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