Page 22 of Burning Truths

My lips quiver. Tears spring to my eyes. The rain falls harder. Harder. It’s pouring and now all I can see is brown eyes. I can feel the weight of him over me, but the rain blocksout everything else. The smell of lilies drift through my nose before the burning smell takes over. Someone set the field on fire.

“Look for me.” His words are hollow and empty.

“Please stay.” I beg.

I beg.

Rain falls and soaks my skin. Fire latches onto the ground spreading over the field. My mind tugs at something but the water washes it away.

“Can you see me? Are you looking for me?” he’s calling my name.

“Why are you leaving me?” I cry out.

His weight is pressing me further into the mud and dirt. The flames growing closer. Rain and smoke mix into a deadly vapor.

“Rise little phoenix. Find me in the lilies and rise.”

Brown eyes inch closer and closer until a mouth presses against my lips, jerking me forward.

Sitting up in bed, my chest heaves with the remnants of fear. The weight of a body is still against me, drawing my attention to the side. My body aches from the nightmare, my eyes scanning the dark room, every inch of my body on alert. I can feel myself start to shake, so I begin to sway back and forth trying to calm my thoughts. The green dress is still on my body and a cloud of confusion hangs over my head. Hank sleeps beside me, his arm lying across my waist, the weight I must have felt coming from his hold.

In a panic my hands start to roam my body, taking in the way each inch of my skin feels. When I come up empty of wounds or soreness a sigh leaves me until my fingers reach my throat to find the metal biting into my flesh. My lungs ache to pull in air around the panic of being collared once again.

“I told you I wouldn’t touch you until you begged for it.” Hank says, sleep still in his voice.

“Then why?” I ask.

He doesn’t question what I’m talking about because he knows. Why is the collar back around my neck? Why?

He’s never going to let you go. You belong with him. He’s the only one who wants you.

His thumb tugs at my bottom lip, “It wasn’t planned to go that way, Princessa.”

I nod as if that’s an answer. “Okay.”

Why can’t I fight him?

You know the outcome of that. Be smart.

He shakes his head, “You don’t understand. I didn’t want to have you dolled up and ready for me. I wanted to.” he stops, clenching his jaw. Hank pulls in a deep breath through his nose, “I planned a special night for you, but it was ruined. It’s always ruined by them. They keep trying to ruin this!” he shouts.

Who?

“I don’t understand.” I whisper. Afraid to push him while his eyes are wild and cloaked in darkness.

Rage drips off him like acid and the wild look behind his eyes returns. Whoever ruined his plans just made it dangerous for me to move without permission. The urge to please him and take away his stress washes over me and the fear from that feeling bubbles in my veins. Once again my mind and body are at war, but the words out of my mouth has everything turning to ice.

Ask him.

No. Not yet. I’m not ready.

You crave the relief of pleasing him so do it. Ask him.

My lip trembles so I dig my teeth into my bottom lip while I swallow down the words fighting to break free.

Do it. Show them you’re not weak. Hank holds everything we need.

“Touch me.” I say on an exhale.

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