Page 65 of Spookily Yours

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I woke up with sweat dripping down my back, pulse racing. Willow laid next to me, the sheets tugged up her body as she dozed peacefully.

Ripping the sheets from my body, I launched myself out of the bed, silently slipping out of the room. Something was suffocating me, and all I knew was I needed to get out of there, needed air, needed space, needed—

In the kitchen, I guzzled down a glass of water.

Why was it bothering me so much?But I knew why. Even if it wasn’t real.

Closing my eyes, all I could see wasred. Blood. They’d…

“Are you okay?” Willow wrapped her arms around my bare torso. “I heard you get up.” She’d pulled a robe on, the soft fabric brushing against my skin in a warm embrace.

No. No, I wasn’t okay. When I turned to her, I knew my face looked pained.

“Just a bad dream,” I murmured, burying my face in her hair. Inhaling her scent.

Reminding myself that she was here.

And nothing was going to happen to her. I’d make sure of that.

“What happened?” Her voice was quiet as she rubbed the muscles in my back—soothing, like she could get rid of all my tension just from her touch. My magical fucking girl.

I shook my head against her h. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Damien…” Her hands moved down to my lower back. “You can talk to me, you know. I’m here for you.”

I heaved out a sigh. “It’s not…”

How would she understand? I couldn’t even figure out my own irrational fears and worries, and trying to explain them to her? Impossible.

Especially when there was so much I was still keeping from her. But I’d tell her soon. All of it. The truth about us.

Right now, I just wanted to hold her. To remind myself that she was here. Thatthiswas real. No matter what would come in the future, I had this.

When I made eye contact with her, she looked up at me with such bright eyes. So hopeful. So curious.

Why wasn’t I letting her in?

“I’m scared,” I said, my voice so low it was essentially a whisper.

“Of what?” Her arms tightened around my back as she hugged my chest.

Losing you.I couldn’t say it out loud, so I said it into her mind instead.

“Oh.” Willow’s sweet voice slipped out.

Not wanting to go another minute without holding her, I wrapped my arms around her thighs, lifting her up so I could carry her back into the bedroom, just like that. Willow wrapped her legs around me, clinging on like a baby bear.

She didn’t unwrap her arms from around my back even as I sat on the bed.

“Little witch,” I murmured, running my hands through the silky strands of her hair. “You have to let go now.”

“Uh-uh.” Her lips curled up into a smile. “You’re always taking care of me. Let me take care of you for once. Till your dream goes away.”

I didn’t think it ever would, but I wouldn’t tell her that.

“Okay.” I wouldn’t argue with her when I loved the way she snuggled against me.

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