Page 14 of Whispers and Warriors
“I’d follow you anywhere,” she whispered, her forehead pressed against his. “To the ends of the earth and beyond.”
Liam smiled, his hand cupping her cheek with infinite tenderness. “And I’ll always be there to save you, Emma. No matter what it takes, I’ll keep you safe.” He placed a kiss on the side of her head. “We all will.”
SIX
Bash circled Emma,tracking her every move. “Keep your guard up,” he barked, lunging forward with a sharp jab. Emma parried, her petite frame twisting away from his strike. Technically it wasn’t a self-defense move he’d taught her, but it didn’t hurt to be offensive when defending yourself most times.
Bash nodded approvingly. “Good. Remember, stay light on your feet.” His gruff voice softened just a notch, something he had no control over when he talked to her. Not since falling in love for only the second time in his life.
Emma reset her stance, curly brown hair pulled back in a ponytail, hazel eyes narrowed in concentration. She launched a flurry of punches and kicks, movements precise and purposeful, just as Chris had drilled into her. Bash was impressed, since Chris usually complained their training sessions ended a lot more physically and was worried he was letting her down.
“Don’t get complacent,” Bash warned.
In a flash, he dropped low, his stomach connecting with the ground as his arms shot out, hands grabbing her ankles and jerked her legs out from under her. He rolled toward her, takingthe brunt as Emma hit him and not the ground. He didn’t have to hurt her to train her. She wasn’t one of the unit that way.
“The enemy can always attack from below. Never assume you’re safe, even when they’re down. It’s not difficult for someone who wants something to grab your ankles, even if they’re injured.”
He gently rolled out from under her and got to his feet, extending a hand to help her up. As their fingers touched, a jolt of electricity seemed to pass between them, a connection deeper than just teacher and student. Bash quickly locked those feelings away. Training her was about keeping her alive, not indulging his own desires, no matter how much his body appreciated alone time with her.
Emma stood and leaned her weight back, her boots sinking into the soft grass as she resumed her defensive stance. Knees squat and ready to take on a hit as he’d taught her months ago, but it was sloppy, and her left foot clearly held more of her weight than her right. A single knock to her left side would topple her.
So did that, twisting his shoulder and shoving it into her as carefully as he could. She stumbled back but didn’t fall. Her once fluid and agile movements now seemed sluggish and strained, as if weighted down by an invisible force. Even her usually vibrant eyes were clouded over, gazing off into the distance as if seeing something far beyond this world. A sense of unease settled in the pit of her stomach, making her question if she was truly alone in this fight.
Bash’s brow furrowed with concern. “Emma? You alright?”
She didn’t respond, and she didn’t turn to look at him. A slow tremor shook her hands and shoulders.
Fuck, she can’t be epileptic, can she?
Without warning, Emma started to fall forward, her knees likely buckling from whatever was happening to her.
Bash lunged forward, his heart leaping into his throat as he caught her just before she hit the ground, tucking her against him as he lowered them the rest of the way to the ground as he cradled her against his broad chest.
Relief flooded through him at the steady thrum beneath his fingertips. This wasn’t a heart attack, and might not be medical. She was lost in her own fears. He’d done something to trigger her.
“Emma, stay with me,” Bash pleaded, his normally gruff voice breaking with worry. He brushed a stray curl from her face, willing her to snap out of whatever horrors had gripped her mind. “It’s okay, you’re safe. I’ve got you.”
Bash knew all too well the shadows that could haunt a person in this broken world. He’d lost everything to the bombs and ensuing chaos. But he’d be damned if he’d let anything happen to Emma. She was his fierce, compassionate woman who’d crashed into his life and rekindled something inside him he’d thought long dead. He’d keep her safe, no matter the cost.
Seconds ticked by, each one an eternity as Bash waited for any sign of movement. The gentle rise and fall of her chest assured him she was still breathing, but the unnatural stillness of her body sent a chill down his spine.
Emma’s eyes flickered open, but they darted around wildly, unseeing, trapped in a waking nightmare. Her breath came in short, sharp gasps, chest heaving in Bash’s hold. He held her tighter, as if he could physically shield her from the demons that plagued her mind. He was almost grateful when her eyes closed again, blocking him from seeing her terror.
“Breathe, Emma,” Bash murmured, his lips brushing against her temple. “You’re here with me, in the present. Whatever you’re seeing, it’s not real. Not anymore.”
He rocked her gently, one hand rubbing soothing circles on her back while the other cradled her head against his shoulder.Bash’s heart clenched painfully in his chest, desperation clawing at his throat. He’d faced down countless dangers in this unforgiving world, but watching Emma suffer and being helpless to stop it was a new kind of agony.
Bash’s mind raced, trying to figure out what had triggered this. Their training session had been going well, her technique flawless until just moments ago. He wracked his brain for any signs he might have missed, any warnings that something was wrong. But there had been nothing. Only the sudden shift in her demeanor, like a switch had been flipped, plunging her into this catatonic state.
He smoothed back the sweat-dampened curls from her forehead, murmuring soothing words of comfort even as dread coiled in his gut. “Shh, it’s okay. I’ve got you. You’re safe, Emma. I’m right here.”
But even as the reassurances left his lips, Bash worried the demons that haunted her, were beyond his power to vanquish. He could only hold her close and pray that his presence, his touch, his love, would be enough to guide her back from the brink.
“Come back to me, Sweetheart,” he whispered, the endearment slipping out unbidden. “You’re the strongest person I know. You can beat this.”
As if sensing his mounting anxiety, Emma’s eyelids fluttered, a soft moan escaping her parted lips. Bash held his breath, his gaze locked on her face as those hazel eyes he adored slowly blinked open. Confusion swirled in their depths, quickly replaced by a flicker of fear as she registered the unfamiliar position she found herself in.
Slowly, recognition began to seep back into Emma’s hazel eyes, the fog of terror lifting as she registered Bash’s presence, his touch, his words. Her breathing gradually evened out, though she still trembled in his embrace. Bash continued to holdher close, murmuring reassurances, anchoring her to the here and now with his unwavering strength and support.
