Page 46 of Salvation
Reassurance shone in his eyes. “You may feel like you’re in a trance. You’ll be able to hear throughout. I’ll tell you want’s happening before I do anything, that way nothing will be a surprise.” Nick’s hand came to rest on her forehead, warm and calming. “Pas.” Peace.
The soft music of his Gift flowed into her and she accepted its comfort. Her own Gift fluttered to life like it sensed his presence, and her eyelids drifted closed.
“Can you hear me, Saku?” Nick asked. She tried to nod her head, but was not sure if worked. “Good.”
Ah, she must have managed, even though she did not feel her head move.
“You’ll feel the pressure of my mind against yours,” he said. “Try not to fight it, it won’t hurt you.Iwon’t hurt you.”
Sure enough, the pressure came, gentle but firm. She forced herself to relax and open her mind to him. And then, he was in, an alien presence in her mind. Was this what Alex felt with her husband? The temptation to push Nick out was strong, but she could be stronger than her natural instinct.
“You’re doing fine,” Nick’s voice soothed. “Now, Sakura, offer me the memory.”
How much of it would she have to relive? Why had she not thought to ask that before they started? She took in a deep breath, releasing it slowly as she turned her attention to the moment she had first discovered she was not alone in the bushes. The hand gripping her upper arm, hard enough to leave bruises. Another hand clamped over….
What had she just been thinking about? Something…frightening. Bad. Why could she not remember? Then she saw herself, but it seemed like it was from someone else’s perspective. An image of the soft curve of her cheek,beautiful. The sassy way she would speak,endearing. Working to solve the Anferthian dissenters’ crisis,incredibly intelligent. A small gasp slipped between her lips. This wasNick’smemory, how she appeared to him through his eyes.The only woman he wanted to be with for the rest of his life.
Something wet seeped from the corners of her eyes. He had placed his memories of her in her mind.
“I will remove them, if you want,” he murmured. “I just thought you might appreciate knowing.”
She swallowed around the lump in her throat. “Leave them.”
The memory of Kenji returned, but now it seemed substantially diminished, especially in the light of Nick’s memories.
She forced her eyelids open. “Nick?”
The mattress dipped as he sat on the edge of the bed, his fingers trailed a gentle path along her cheek. “I love you, Sakura. My Saku.”
He loved her, and for the first time she did not question his sincerity. He had given her his memories and they were hers to treasure. The most selfless gift she had ever received. She reached for him and drew his face within inches of hers, holding his gaze with all the honesty and openness in her heart. “And I love you too, Nicholaus Bock.”
His lips brushed hers, firm and warm, before he pulled back and touched his forefinger to her forehead. “Dormio.” Sleep.
His face faded in her vision as she sunk into the soft arms of the healing sleep.
