Page 63 of Nightmare Island

I can’t hear myself think.

Sten’s stumbling back toward me, fighting the winds, his face a mess of blood streaming down from his temple. But he’s still standing. Still fucking terrifying.

He’s bellowing something, but he’s too far for me to hear, and I sure as hell am not waiting around. I shove against the blustering air and lunge toward the dense woods in the same direction where the storm is lighter, where Ghost’s mansion lies.

Yet the sickening pulse of energy inside me, the one belonging to my fucking dead husband, crawls under my skin like thousands of insects, making my stomach heave.

You fucking bitch, you’re going to pay.His voice slithers through my mind like oil on water.Remember how I used to make you pay, Omega?

“Shut up,” I yell, running madly through the storm hammering into me, trying to get the tornado as far behind me as possible.

Look at you run. Jarl’s voice oozes through my thoughts.Fat little Omega, always running.

“Fuck off.” My feet slip in the mud as I bolt for the tree line. “You’re fucking dead, and I danced on your grave.”

Did you? Or did you cry, knowing deep down you deserved everything I gave you?

“The only thing I deserved was to kill you myself.” My lungs burn as I run, branches whipping past my face. The mountain looms ahead. That massive stone wall is somewhere beyond, where I know Ghost’s mansion waits.

Kill me? I should have cut out your filthy tongue.

His laugh rattles through my skull. It’s like being stabbed behind my eyes. I stumble, catching myself against a tree, waiting for the ache to pass. I use the canopy overhead for some protection from the weather.

Behind me, I can barely see Sten’s settlement from the storm. Then I’m off again. I know he won’t stop until he comes for me… and right now, I need to find Ghost and work out how to get this fucker out of me.

Hours blur together as I keep going, exhaustion close to making me collapse, and the rain doesn’t relent. I’m too busy trying to breathe to pay any attention to Jarl’s insults.

“Hel!” Someone’s calling my name, his deep, familiar voice cutting through the storm. My heart lurches until I see him. Ghost. He’s running down the mountain slope toward me, and just the sight of him makes my chest ache. His black clothes are soaked through, clinging to muscles that ripple as he moves. Themask is askew on his face, showing a slice of his jaw—strong, stubbled, clenched with worry.

Who the fuck is that, whore?

“Shut up, shut up, shut UP!” I didn’t mean to scream it out loud, but Ghost hears. He runs faster.

Soon, you’ll give me full control… I’ll find a way to take it.

My stomach turns at the idea, terrifying me, but I don’t respond, don’t reward him with my fear.

“Ghost!” The cry rips from my throat, desperate to drown out Jarl’s voice. Ghost reaches me, strong arms lifting me off my feet. Through the rain, I can see his eyes filled with fury that would terrify me if I didn’t know it wasn’t aimed at me.

“I’m so sorry,” he says, voice rough with emotion. His hands are gentle on my waist. “I should have done more to keep you safe, should have?—”

I don’t let him finish. My fingers find the edge of his mask, pushing it up onto his head and tossing it aside as I kiss him hard. His lips are warm despite the rain, soft against mine, and for a moment, I forget everything else. Just for a moment.

Pain explodes through my chest and stomach. I cry out, doubling over.

“Hel, what’s going on?”

You disgusting whore.You think you can kiss him with the same mouth that begged me for mercy?

Ghost lowers me to my feet but keeps his arms around me. Rain streams down his face and drips from his full lower lip. A face that would be beautiful if it weren’t twisted with worry.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

Tell him, Jarl taunts.Tell him how damaged you are. How used. How worthless.

I stare up at Ghost, hating the tears that mix with rain on my face.

“I’m in huge trouble.”

---