Page 106 of A Trial of Fate

The faint sound of footsteps began to build as torchlight lingered down a long, dark corridor. Panic started to set in with the scraping sounds of an iron-tipped whip dragged along the stone floor.

“No, no,” I mumbled, trying to free myself.

“My pet …”

My heart stopped in my chest. Blade.

It was the unmistakable voice of my own personal damnation. The mage who sliced through my flesh bit by bit, conducting experiments on me with a twisted, sadistic enjoyment.

“We didn’t get to finish our experiments. You were taken away from me too quickly.” His voice was growing louder as the torchlight burned brighter. “We have more to explore together, my pet.”

No. Not again. Please. Gods, not again.

The beaming light from the torch appeared behind the locked cell door, and I knew what awaited me on the other side. “Hello, my precious pet. We have more work to do today.” As the handle turned, I screamed as torchlight blinded me…

“No!” I screamed, jolting upward with my hand clutching at my chest. I panted with pure terror, sweat coating my shaking hands and pale white face. I curled up into a tight ball and rocked myself back and forth on my bed, roaring with a deep-seated fear that tore my throat raw.It was a dream…It was not real. It was just a dream. It. Was. Not. Real.But each time I closed my eyes, I saw Blade’s face behind the cell door.

Shaw came charging into my room, took one look at me, and knew exactly what was happening. He raced over to my bed, grabbed my hands, and pressed his forehead to mine. “Breathewith me, Sky,” Shaw instructed calmly. I wanted to follow his lead. Iwantedto catch my breath and steady myself, but I just couldn’t. The darkness of my nightmare was folding in on all sides.

Shaw released my hands and threw back the curtain, revealing the morning sun’s rays. “Look, Skylar,” Shaw demanded. “Open your eyes and see the sunlight. You are not underground. It was a dream; it was not real. You are safe.” He returned to my bed and grabbed my hands again. “Focus on this feeling. Ground yourself in what you know is real. Feel the bed underneath you. Focus on the morning sun’s warmth and the sound of my voice.”

My voice trembled. “It was so real, Shaw.”

“I know,” he whispered.

Shaw knew all too well what I was experiencing. During this past month, Shaw shared with me that he had these night terrors, too. This was the type of grounding technique that Talon showed him, and it helped bring him back from night terrors.

“Dammit, Blade,” I cursed his name… cursed his existence. I would someday end his sorry excuse of a life if it was the last thing I did in this world.

“Skylar!” Daxton appeared in the doorway. His face was tight with concern as he raced over to my bedside. Shaw wisely moved aside so Dax could slide in front of me. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

“I’m… I’m… all right,” I said with a less-than-steady voice. It was not enough to convince him as he continued to look me over for any sign of injury. “It was a nightmare, Dax. That’s all.”

He stopped and cupped my face with his hands. “I was already on my way to wake you when I heard your scream.”

“It was a dream, nothing more.”

“Dreams have more power than you realize, Spitfire.”

I bit my lip as the intensity of his stare locked onto mine. A part of me felt a wash of relief to have him here. I knew I could handle myself, but Daxton wouldn’t hesitate to cut down any threat that dared harm me. As he proved last night, Daxton was willing to kill for me if needed. He rubbed my cheek with this thumb as I reached up to hold his hand. When our hands intertwined, the spark returned across my skin, and I wondered if he felt it as well.

“I’m all right. I promise.”

“Is this the first one you’ve had since your release?” Daxton asked. He turned to look at Shaw.

“It’s not,” Shaw admitted on my behalf. Daxton inhaled asharp breath, and the look of disappointment crossed his face. I knew it wasn’t directed at me. He was displeased with himself for not knowing about my nightmares. “But she is getting better at grounding herself when she wakes up.”

“Hey,” I interjected, leaning to the side to look at Shaw, “I can answer that too, you know.” Daxton sat very still, his hands clutching mine, but I could tell his mind was racing elsewhere.

Shaw fidgeted with his feet. “Yes, but he’s a little more intimidating than you, Sky. You have met your match with him around.”

We’ll see about that. I glared at Shaw, who wisely averted his eyes and shifted toward the open door. “I’ll give you two a moment and go see what Julia has prepared in the kitchen.”

Daxton gave Shaw a quick nod, and he returned the gesture as he moved toward the doorway. It seemed like they were getting along or at least had a basic level of respect for each other.

“Julia is already awake?” I asked before he snuck away.

“We all are,” Shaw replied. “There was no way we were going to miss sending you off.”

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