Page 59 of Frosted Torment

The front door slammed open, and Ena stepped onto the porch. I groaned and threw my head back in resignation. “Great.”

“Perfect timing, Ena.” Lex’s eyes brightened at the sight of her.

Ena smirked and bounded down the stairs. “Sounds intriguing. What are we planning?”

A revelation shot through me as she took Lex’s hand and he helped her down the steps. When I thought about the feelings I once held for him, seeing them together made me happy now. Clarity emerged that Lex was the one who gave Ena angel essence. He deserved someone good, and from what I’d seen of her, Ena was worthy.

“We were asking Noa what happened in the woods with you,” Lex began as Ena joined us.

“We? You and Baz?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s not that serious,” I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

“Noa and Baz can talk with their minds,” Lex divulged. Then he looked at me and ordered, “Start talking.”

Ena crossed her arms and flashed me a hard gaze. “Tell them, Noa.”

No longer able to suppress the truth or hide it from my friends, I gulped down the lump forming in my throat and decided on honesty.

“The day after my birthday,” I mumbled and glanced up at them, “and it’s only happened a few times, but a strange man showed up while I was asleep.”

Lex balled his fists by his side. “I’ll kill him,” he fumed.

An involuntary laugh escaped me. “Interesting that you say that, but you can’t.”

He looked at me like I’d forgotten who he was and shook his head as he pointed to his chest. “Fallen angel, remember?” he reminded me.

“Yes,” I replied with a sigh. “But he’s in my head. Lex—he got through somehow last night too on our way to the cabin.”Those last words fractured under pressure as my emotions threatened to spill over.

Lex’s eyes darted between everyone before landing back on mine. Those stormy clouds flickered within them again, and I knew he was preparing for a fight. His jaw set tight. “No. He’s out there. Once we figure out how to find him, then I’ll kill him.”

“Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”Baz’s stern voice broke in as he began pacing the yard.

“I wanted to,”I said through unshed tears.“But when we met this morning, you said it was the first time we’d spoken.”

Ena studied my interaction with Baz, concern etched on her face. “What’s happening with them?” she whispered to Lex.

“Baz and I are linked together in our minds,” I blurted, and pushed away a tear from my cheek. “And we can communicate with each other.”

She stuttered, trying to find the right words. “That’s amazing! But he’s not the one in your head?”

“No,” I sighed as tension settled at the base of my skull. “When Maros showed up, I thought it was him, but he’s just… repulsive.” Taking a deep breath, I confessed, “I don’t know who it is.”

“Do you know what he looks like?” Lex pressed with urgency.

Baz sat down in a flash beside me, and his focus sharpened on my next words.“Describe him,”he instructed.

With a casual shrug, I began recalling fragmented details. “Dark hair and wild green eyes… He comes to me while I sleep—showing me visions…” I hesitated before continuing; memories swirled like leaves caught in a storm. “…My scar burnslike someone is holding a match to it right before he appears.”

“Visions of what, Noa?” Ena interjected, her eyes narrowing at me.

I racked my brain trying to sort through the jumbled images. “There’s a field,” I said, struck by clarity. “And the tree. Lex, your tattoo!” I exclaimed and pointed at his thigh. “It’s the same tree, and he insisted I find him there. Do you think he’s waiting for me?”

Lex stroked his chin, his voice tinged with contemplation. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “Doubtful.”

Baz remained silent for a moment, seeming to wrestle with the question. He glanced at me, a look of struggle in his eyes.“There’s nothing at the tree for you, Noa,”he agreed.

But what if there were? Something more lurked beneath our conversation. Why ask me about the man, then tell me I’m wrong when the clues are there? A nagging instinct told me to push harder. I couldn’t let them decide for me. Especially when it was my mind under attack.

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