Page 13 of Guarded from Corruption

Please let her be okay.

As I take the corner into my bedroom, I grab the doorjamb, slingshotting myself inside.

The bed looks like a hurricane hit it. Blankets strewn everywhere. Pillows scattered on the floor. Sheets twisted like pretzels.

And Jade, hunched into a tiny ball in the center of it, sobbing.

My heart wrenches so violently it steals my breath.

Between sobs, she’s making these terrible, scared sounds that send every protective instinct flaring.

I race across the room but freeze just by the side of the bed, hesitating.

My first impulse is to touch her shoulder, try to gently wake her up, but I don’t want to touch Jade without her permission.

I don’t want to sit on the bed, and possibly trigger a traumatic memory for her when she wakes, but if I’m standing, looming over her… will that be any better?

She lets out another terrified cry, and it jolts me into action. Perching myself on the very edge of the bed, I pitch my voice so it’s low and soothing. “Jade. You’re okay. You’re safe. It’s Niall, I’m here; I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

It takes several repetitions before she comes out of the nightmare; her eyes flying open with a startled gasp.

“It’s okay,” I repeat softly. “You’re safe. No one can hurt you here. I promise.”

Jade stares at me, her eyes filling with tears. Her chin wobbles. On a sniffle, she whispers, “Niall?”

“Yeah, hun. It’s me. You’re in my apartment. Remember? At Blade and Arrow. Everyone is here to keep you safe.”

A tear slips down her cheek. In a small voice, she says, “I dreamed I was back there.”

Ah, shit.

My heart.

I’m struck with a sudden need to pull her into my arms. To hold Jade until she stops shaking. But that would be weird and completely inappropriate, so I settle on, “I’m so sorry. But you’re not. You’re here. And I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”

Several more tears escape, but she quickly dashes them away. “I… I’m sorry…” Her gaze sweeps across the bed. “I messed everything up. And I… did I wake you up? I’m sorry?—”

“No, you didn’t. Mess things up, or wake me up. It’s fine.” At her doubtful expression, I add, “I mean it, Jade. It’s just a bed. I can remake it. And I was up. So don’t worry.”

After a pause, she gives me a tiny nod. “Okay.”

“What can I get you? Do you want to go back to sleep? Watch some TV? Have something to eat?”

“Could I… watch some TV? Or a movie? I just… I don’t want to go back to sleep yet.”

But the movie isn’t thirty minutes in before Jade falls asleep again, slumping back against the couch cushions. She looks absolutely wiped, still so pale, purplish smudges dark under her eyes, tiny lines of strain etched across her forehead even in sleep.

She’s still shaking slightly, but I’m not sure if it’s from fear, residual shock, or cold. I get up to find a blanket and carefully lay it over her, then sit at the opposite end of the couch to keep watch.

There are other things I could do while she sleeps—run through the equipment order I need to send out, fix the bed, tidy the apartment, text Rhiannon to ask what sorts of things we need to buy for Jade—but nothing seems as important as just being here.

Knowing how strong Jade is makes it all the more painful to see her like this—so small and scared and vulnerable. A hot rush of rage fills me as I think about the people who did this to her. People who think nothing of taking an incredible woman like Jade and hurting her. Treating her like something to be sold.

Jade whimpers in her sleep and I shove down the anger; moving across the couch so I’m close enough to croon softly, “You’re okay. It’s Niall, you’re in my apartment, and you’re safe. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

At first I’m worried it’s going to turn into another nightmare, but she settles at the sound of my voice. Then she turns toward me unconsciously, her features relaxing, and she shifts a few inches in my direction.

My heart gives a tug.

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