Page 109 of Burdened Bonds

“I’d take a million risks for you, Rhianna.” He kisses my mouth, then grinds his way inside me. “And whatever happens next,” he says, “whatever fate may throw our way, you know I love you.”

The way he makes love to me is more gentle than it ever has been before. Usually, he pounds me into the mattress, making me scream until my throat is raw. But tonight he’s slower, taking his time with me, kissing my mouth, and my throat, my shoulder and my breasts, his hands all over me too, caressing my waist, stroking my thighs, touching my face.

I feel like I’m being worshiped, like he’s committing every part of me to memory, and our magic spins in the air, curling around us in an embrace of its own.

I come, clinging on to him, whispering that I love him too, and he keeps grinding inside me, so that I’m lifted right up to the heavens themselves, as if I leave my body all together and am somewhere lost among the canopy of the bed, watching the two of us, entwined and moving together like we’re one being and not two.

I come a second time and he follows right after, releasing a long drawn-out groan as he sinks into me.

“I liked it that way,” I say, combing my fingers through his hair again and kissing his cheek.

It felt special and maybe he feels the same way, because he doesn’t let me go and we fall asleep with him still buried inside me.

The monster is stilland unmoving. I try to rouse him, try to shake him awake. But he’s cold. His heart silent.

Terror grips me – like before in the academy. I feel my mind unwind and I’m lost in the dark. Unable to reach him. Trapped and alone and frightened.

Why am I alone? Where are my mates? Where are the men destined to protect me?

I cry out but no sound leaves my throat and there’s no magic. There’s no magic.

“Wake up,”a firm hand shakes my shoulder. “Rhianna, wake up.”

I open my eyes and stare up into the concerned face of Azlan.

It takes a moment – a moment for me to come back to myself – and then I fling my arms around Azlan’s neck, clinging to him for salvation.

“It’s okay, sweetheart,” he says, rocking me in his arms, my body damp with sweat. “You’re all right. It was just a dream.”

“It was so real though, Azlan. So real. It felt like I was there, really there.”

I gulp, tears racing down my face and into my mouth.

“What did you see?” he asks me gently, “what did you see?”

I screw shut my eyes and the image springs in front of me. I don’t want to look. I don’t want to be back there. “The monster was dead.”

“The monster? What monster?” he says. “Was it the beast – Spencer – the one you’re meant to save?”

“I don’t know,” I say, inhaling his scent, trying to focus in on the feel of his strong arms, on the here and now. “I couldn’t see his face. I couldn’t see who – or what it was. I just know it was dead.” A sob wracks my body. “What if we’re too late, Azlan? What if Spencer is already dead?”

“He’s not, Rhi. It was just a dream. If he were dead, you’d know it, you’d feel it.”

I shake my head. “We’re not bonded.”

“It doesn’t matter. I still think you’d know.”

“What if this is my way of knowing?” I cry.

He takes my head in his hands and wipes away my tears with the pads of his thumbs. “We’ll formulate a plan. First thing in the morning. No more delays. We’re going to rescue him, Rhi. We’re going to get him out of there.”

I sniff and nod. I want to believe him, I want to believe that we can. That we’re not too late, that there is a way. I don’t want to believe in bad dreams and nightmares.

“Okay?” he says, examining my face.

I feel my racing heart rate settle, my ragged breathing return to normal.

“Okay,” I say at last.