Page 59 of Psychological War

“There are other factors in this, Zane.” His eyes flickered to me. Obviously, I was part of the factor, though I had no idea why. “Tomorrow we’re meeting Taylor in Charlotte.”

“Alright, I’ll be ready in the morning.” Zane nodded his head.

“Six, it’s a couple hours away and Killian likes to stop a lot.” Dimitri turned to leave before stopping and looking at me over his shoulder. “They’ll be safe with you here.” It wasn’t a question.

“Always,” I confirmed. Tobias and Mila would be safe no matter what.

Something, I’m not too sure what, passed between us, but his face told me he knew I was telling the truth. I would protect them with everything in me.

25

Zane

Whenyoulookatsomeone who is five foot five, maybe a hundred and thirty pounds, you would never expect them to have a good amount of strength. Especially when they’re sleeping. Like who can throw a good fucking punch when they’re sleeping, or kick like they’re life depended on it?

Salem can.

After our little horse-riding session when Salem freaked out and barely talked until we were a good distance from the house, we came back and something passed between Dimitri and her when he told me we had to travel to meet with Taylor. I had no idea what was going on since I had been “resting.” After he left, Salem made us both some grilled cheese and soup, which I never thought I was an actual fan. But fuck if that wasn’t the best meal I had. We barely spoke while we ate, or showered, and even before she fell asleep.

I had just fallen asleep when I got kneed in the side. At first it was cute the way she curled up into my side. Her snoring was deepening until just as I went to close my eyes again, I got socked in the jaw. For a tiny person she was fucking strong. But she had yet to wake up. Instead, the moment I sat up and turned to wake her up she full on kicked me in the stomach.

“No, no no, please stop!” She began whimpering. Salem never slept hard enough to snore let alone start sleep talking.

Reaching over I tried shaking her shoulder to wake her up. Instead, I got punched again in the jaw. I was definitely going to have a damn bruise. Just in time for my others to fade.

“Salem,” I whispered into her ear. Rubbing her back, Salem began crying even harder.

“Don’t leave me, please, please, no no no no, DON’T!” Her voice got louder at the end. Her breathing was rushed. I had no idea what she was dreaming about, but whatever it was she was trapped. She was trapped.

I had no idea what to do to get her to wake up, so like my natural self I reared back and smacked her cheek. It wasn’t hard enough to bruise, but hard enough that her eyes shot open. Her breathing was ragged, and the pure look of disgust in her eyes had me cringing at the fact I just hit her.

“Zane,” she forced out.

“Yes?”

“Did… did you just slap me?” Her voice was so low I barely heard her. I still heard the anger behind them, but there was also fear in her voice. Whatever she was dreaming about had scared her out of her mind, but I knew she wouldn’t talk about it with me.

“You hit me first.” I pointed to my already bruising jaw. “Plus you kicked me, and did you know you snore?” I cocked my brow.

Her mouth opened and then closed, then opened and closed again. Searching for the words, she looked cute. Her hair was a frizzy mess from going to bed with it wet, and her eyes were half closed from sleep.

“I… I don’t remember what I was dreaming about. But I do not snore.”

“Sure, Kitten.” Smirking at her, I opened my mouth to say something else, but Salem looked over at the window. She didn’t speak, she didn’t move, it was like she was emotionless. I had no idea what she was thinking, or even feeling. She was hiding so much, and I had no idea about anything. It was beginning to make me feel useless. She had these walls that held so high you couldn’t see the fucking top and no matter how many times I showed her she was safe with me, she refused to back down.

“Salem,” I tried. But nothing. Her face was empty, blank. Nothing. It was as though she was no longer there. She was gone inside her head.

Scooting closer to her, I placed a hand on her thigh. But she didn’t even react to that. Inching even closer to her face, she still didn’t react.

“Take your clothes off,” I demanded.

Nothing.

Her eyes were glossy, and completely gone. She wasn’t there at all. I needed to figure out what happened in her past that made her zone out like this. I needed to know where her head was and why it was like that.

Sneaking my hand back to her thigh, I smacked her bare thigh. Salem yelped and her head snapped back towards me.

“What the hell?” she growled.

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