Page 25 of Reign

“Stop!” His bellowed command kicked me into top gear.

Ducking down, I sprinted through the shadows towards the sound of voices. Men rushed through the house, holding guns and firing them at my father’s men. I bit down on my panic and hid behind some long curtains. When the corridor cleared, I dashed into the open plan living area where I could hear my father yelling. I had no idea what I was going to do, just that I needed to get out of there.

The roar of a huge animal behind me spurred me on.This is just a nightmare. It’s not real. It’s not real…

The glare blinded me as the overhead lights were switched on. Totally unprepared for that, I skidded on unsteady legs, twisting my ankle. Screeching in pain, I fell to the floor, sliding on my arse and coming to a halt right where a huge man stood over my father.

For all of his power, Rex Manivera now kneeled at the feet of the invading conqueror, beaten and bloody. His eyes fell on me and widened.

“Sarah! My sweet Sarah, don’t listen to what these people tell you. You are my daughter. Mine! They can never take you from me if you don’t…”

The man punched him, and he fell sideways. “Shut up! You don’t speak to her!”

I whimpered, and even though the pain in my ankle sent waves of nausea through me, I skidded backwards, horror filling me. An odd warmth pulsed inside my chest, warring with my fear. Some strange part of me wanted me to run towards this...victor.What the everloving fuck?I couldn’t breathe as he turned towards me, his face full of fury and wildness.Oh gods! I’d seen this man before. He’d haunted my dreams as much as the monster I’d felt searching for me.My breaths were huge and panting, my heart rate spiking. The room began to spin, my fingertips going numb. I knew I was panicking, but I didn’t seem able to stop it.

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t run. No matter how scared I was, an equal part of me wanted to stay near this man. I simply couldn’t make my body obey me.

He prowled closer, stopped a few feet away—and squatted down. His hard face softened. His eyes were so blue they completely ensnared mine. He was every bit a predator, and he’d finally caught his prey—me.

“It’s okay. No one’s going to hurt you.”

I snarled and backed up some more, until the wall was behind me. “I don’t believe you.” I managed to squeak between my panting breaths.

He pointed over his shoulder at my father. “I know you don’t understand all this right now, but that man there is not who you think he is. He is not your father.”

I swallowed, Jed’s words coming back to me. My head throbbed, a loud whining sound in my ears. “He...I’m…” My thoughts were slow, my brain muddled. I looked back into the man’s eyes. He watched me carefully, his brow wrinkling as he saw me clutching at my t-shirt. “Listen, how about we get you off the floor and look at your ankle?”

I just blinked, not sure I could actually get up. I was shaking too much, and my ankle was throbbing worse than my head ever had.

“My name’s Connor.” He touched his chest over his heart. “And I promise you on my life that I will never hurt you, Ember.” There was that name again. “Will you let me help you up?”

I met his gaze again. He didn’t rush me, didn’t look impatient, he merely waited. His gaze darkened, and a warm wave of...something washed over me and through me. I swallowed, and the knot of fear in my chest unwound a little. A small smile curved his lips. God, he was hot. The kind of hot that made everything in me tingle just being this close to him. He shuffled closer, his strong thighs taking his weight and pushing against the material of his combats. His black fitted top molded to his defined muscles as if it was painted on. I swallowed hard, my already racing heart ramping up a notch, I inhaled as he reached out. A glorious spicy scent hit my nostrils and the whining in my head calmed. My whole body relaxed. I could feel the panic in my chest unwinding enough I could breathe easier.

What the hell was happening to me? Jed never had this effect on me. Before I had time to think about it more, Connor’s voice rumbled right into my bones.

“I’m going to put one arm around your waist and another under your legs and lift you. Is that okay?”

My voice had all but disappeared, so I nodded. I didn’t really have a choice, and he knew it. I couldn’t stand, or walk, I was in too much pain. I watched him warily as he did just that and then stood up, lifting me like I was a child.

“Put your arms around my neck.”

Without conscious thought, I followed his order. It was as if he had some kind of hold over me. But it wasn’t bad, it felt really really good. Before I could stop myself, I sighed and relaxed against him. It felt like I belonged in his arms; more than I ever had in Jed’s. I couldn’t tear my gaze from his face. His jaw was strong and square, his hair a deep brown, and his eyes? They were like getting lost in the bluest ocean and clearest sky all at the same time. They seemed to see right into my soul. I shivered and made myself look away, my cheeks flushing.

“Let’s sit you here.” He lowered me onto the sofa. His attention kept coming back to my face as he plumped cushions behind my back and made sure I was sitting comfortably. “There. Is that comfy?”

“Yes. Thank you,” I added.

I glanced at my father who was semi-conscious and moaning. What the hell was I doing? This man had just killed my father's men and invaded our home. Except I didn’t feel scared of him.

Connor didn’t stand over me like I expected but knelt beside me, blocking my view of my father. His face was carefully controlled again, but his eyes were stormy with emotions I could only guess at as he studied my face like he couldn’t look away. I had no idea why, but I didn't want to look away from him either. Suddenly I had an irrational need to cry. My chest ached. I wanted to reach for him. Something inside me screamed that this man could fix me …fix the emptiness in my soul…

“Gods, I don’t know where to begin…” He rubbed his hands over his face, his jaw clenched. He searched my eyes. “Mother Wolf, I can’t believe you’re here…” His voice cracked, and he reached out and stroked my cheek with such gentleness I had no hope of holding back the tears that had been burning in my eyes since I’d first seen him. It made no sense, I had no idea who this was, I’d never met him in my life, yet I felt as though I knew everything about him, and that somehow he was my whole life. Tears ran down my cheeks and he wiped them away, his own eyes shining. “It’s okay, Firecracker. Everything will be alright now.”

My heart lurched. What had he just called me? Why did that word make me want to sob harder? “Who are you?” I whispered. Wiping away my tears I tried to pull myself together.

Connor took a deep breath and exhaled. “Okay, I know this will be hard to understand but it is the truth. My name is Connor Rawson. And I’m your real...fiance.”

“What? But I don’t even know you…”

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