Page 29 of Scrooged for the Holidays
His cheek twitches. “I told you; we’re on a timeline.”
I groan. “You’re making no sense. You said you’d explain.”
He pauses, thoughts passing through his brown eyes before he says, “I told you, I’m a Nephilim.”
“And what exactly is that?”
“Half angel, half human.”
I snort. And before I know it, the snort turns into a maniacal cackle. But Kai doesn’t flinch, doesn’t move. He just waits until I stop laughing.
“You’re serious?”
“I have no reason to lie.”
“Then show me your wings.”
His twitching cheek turns into a half grin. “That’s an intimate question to ask someone. Though you have seen a lot of me already, haven’t you, Princess?”
My cheeks tinge pink, but I clear my throat. I’m not going to talk about that in this crazy mindfuck of a situation I have going on, especially because Dream Him bringing that up doesn’t make sense. However, it would make this more of a nightmare, given I was caught watching when I should not have been.
I level my gaze at him. “I’m not a princess.”
He shrugs. “If you say so.”
“I do say so.”
We stare each other down, but he doesn’t blink, just keeps grinning. I have the urge to both kiss him again and punch him in the face. God, my emotions are all over the place, and even Nightmare Me—or whatever I am right now—doesn’t like it.
“Emotions are a liability. Control is power,” I say softly, making Kai frown.
“Are you okay?”
I huff. “I don’t know—you tell me. I’m having the weirdest night I’ve ever had with one of the hottest men I’ve ever met, and I can’t wake up from it. Oh, and somehow I relived a bad memory, so…just trying to take back a bit of control where I can get it.”
“Emotions aren’t bad, Princess. And I’m one of the hottestNephilimyou’ve ever met, not a man.”
I groan. “God! I really need to wake up. This is completely mental.” I move to hit myself again, but Kai catches my hand and holds it.
“Attempting to hurt yourself won’t do anything.”
“Then for the love of everything, please tell me what is happening. I don’t care if it’s complicated.”
He exhales a soft breath and squeezes my hand. “I waited to explain so you could experience that memory fully without theinformation I’m going to tell you now. It was important that everything felt raw and real, like how it happened that day.”
“This isn’t a dream?”
“No, it’s not. I’m guiding you through specific events that helped shape you into what you’ve become. When you’ve seen all that you need to see, you’ll be back in your bed at the inn, safe and sound. I promise.”
I try to catch up with all he’s said, and when it fully sinks in, anger boils in my veins. Every nerve in my body lights up, and rage seeps through the pores of my skin, so much so I should be sweating. But this version of myself doesn’t.
“What I’ve become?” I repeat in question, my voice oddly calm.
“Yes, Greer.”
I want to ask what he means, but I don’t need to—because even in my subconscious, a near stranger is insinuating I’m an Ice Queen.
I cross my arms and lift a brow, trying to mask the unease crawling down my spine. I think he’s telling the truth, but the logical part of my brain won’t let me fully believe it. Nephilim aren’t real—more specifically, ones sent to show me my past and point outwhat I’ve become.
