Page 12 of Infernium

Jesus. It looked like we’d had an all-out brawl.

Shaking it off, I gave my teeth a thorough brushing, and gargled twice with mouthwash until the burned-ash taste no longer lingered on my tongue. Ignoring my still-gurgly stomach, I returned to the room, careful to hold my arms so he wouldn’t see the bruising, as he’d surely feel remorseful over it. I didn’t want him regretting his roughness. I liked the aggression in him, his fervor for sex, as much as I enjoyed his gentle nature.

The moment I stepped through the door, my eyes shot to Jericho. His muscled body lay sprawled over the mattress, white sheets covering what I already knew was an impressive lower half, and even in my shaken and nauseated state, I couldn’t help but admire him while I crossed the room toward the bed. Three days he’d been with me, and I still marveled the man.

He turned to his side, as I crawled in next to him. Thick arms,normal arms,wrapped around me, and I allowed him to pull me into his warm body. Despite the heady scent in the room, he carried his own citrusy, masculine aroma that calmed my nerves—a scent, so delicious, I wanted to lick it from the air.

Yes, I remembered it all. We’d hardly left my bed in the three nights since his return, the two of us entangled in each other. I’d slept soundly ever since–a first for me–up until that damned dream.

Forcing myself to breathe slowly, I closed my eyes.Just a nightmare.

Breathe.

Rubbing a trembling hand across my brow, I urged my head to banish those last seconds of the dream that had somehow looped through my memories.

“You have a sickness?” Jericho asked as he stroked a hand down my hair, the sound of his voice grounding me even more.

A weak chuckle escaped me. “A number of pregnant women do. It’s normal.” Though, I suspected vomiting black wasn’t.

“It was a nightmare that woke you. Tell me about it.”

“It was horrible.”

We’d made the decision to leave at first light for Nightshade, so that I might rest after our marathon lovemaking, but I could’ve left right then, as unsettled as I felt.

“Tell me.”

“I can’t. I feel like if I say it, it’ll be out in the universe.”

“The universe doesn’t require prompting to do what it wants.” The air of amusement in his voice made me smile, in spite of the fear still rattling my nerves. I’d forgotten how easily I could be distracted by him.

For so many months, I’d woken from horrible dreams, to the feeling of someone watching me and unable to shake the visuals--until morning, when I’d reawaken a sleep-deprived zombie. If not for the inheritance Aunt Nelle had left me, who knew how I’d have survived, sleeping all day, trying to sleep at night.

“Tell me your dream,” he said again.

I hesitated, at first, my mind fixated on all the blood. So much blood. With a shake of my head, I dismissed the thought. “Just a nightmare. It was nothing.”

“You called for Syrisa.” The humor in his voice from moments ago had withered to a troubling tone.

I scoffed at that. “Syrisa?I’ve never met a Syrisa in my life.” Although, she could have been someone from Lustina’s life that I just couldn’t recall. “Did you know a Syrisa?”

“I did, yes. She was a seer from centuries ago.”

“Perhaps it wasyouwho called forher, then? Like one of the maids who pined after you, hmmm?” I teased with a smile. “Speaking of maids, Evie …”

“Is gone. The moment I realized what had happened, I ordered her out of Blackwater. And had Remy not died at the hands of Drystan, I’d have killed him myself.” His eyes held a sincere and deadly resolve, as if he could’ve imagined such a thing right then, and I had to remind myself, for all the good in Jericho, there was a duality within him. A darkness that was as much a part of him as the raven color of his hair and the unwavering sparkle of his eye.

“He was actually trying to help me, in a weird, Remy sort of way.”

“I could have lost you forever. Regardless of his intentions, I would not have spared him mercy.”

“This must be your demon half speaking.”

“This is my no-bullshit half speaking. Nothing will take you away from me again. Now, tell me this nightmare of yours.”

His request sprang forth the image of the strange woman, who hadn’t seemed familiar to me, at all–not in Lustina’s memories, nor my own.

“Tell me more about this seer,” I volleyed back.

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