Page 8 of Cruelly Bitten

Another pang ripped through my veins, setting my blood on fire.This feels…

A silent scream tickled my raw throat, my voice incapable of functioning.Water… I need…

But my hands… arms… they were still too heavy. Too… too…dead.

My eyes closed again, my world encased in perpetual darkness.Is this a nightmare?

I tried to pinch my fingers together, but they refused my command.

Another groan rumbled in my chest. Except it made no sound, just like my scream.Was my first groan like that as well?I couldn’t remember.

I couldn’t remember anything. Like how I ended up here. Why I felt… felt likedeath.

Cam…

I attempted to shake my head in denial.I’m not feeling his death. He’s okay. He has to be.

Except no. That… that wasn’t it.

Something about Cam…

My legs shifted this time when I called upon them to move, the heavy weights seeming to release my limbs to my mind. But it hurt. It… it didn’t feel right.It aches.

Like death…

I shuddered as my knees finally met my chest, my arms slowly encircling my shins to hold myself in a ball on my side. Something soft existed beneath me. A bed, perhaps? But not my own. Because the smell was foreign. Musky.Old.

Tears dampened my eyes, the liquid a welcome kiss to my dry senses. Saliva pooled in my mouth, allowing me to swallow. But it all felt devastatingly wrong.

This has to be a nightmare. Maybe one of Cam’s? Am I finally seeing into his mind? Is this where Lilith has kept him? In this perpetual state of torment?

More tears pierced my eyelids, spilling onto my cheeks.Oh, Cam…

I usually dreamt of our last night together. Or rather, the night over a hundred and eighteen years ago that had changed our lives forever.

The night Cam had erected a wall between our minds, mentally severing our link…

My eyes flew open as I felt Cam’s intent, his plan taking hold of my mind and sending my pulse into overdrive. I knew this might happen. He’d told me about the possibility.

But to feel it…

There has to be another way, Cam,I whispered into his mind.You’re sacrificing?—

It’s my burden to bear, Ismerelda,he replied, his voice tired as though he was already in pain.And mine to bear alone.

Except you haven’t been alone for over a thousand years,I wanted to say. But I couldn’t form the thought, my heart breaking into a million pieces as I felt the wall between us solidifying.

Wait,I begged.We have to talk about this.

There isn’t time to discuss it. I have to close off our link before it’s too late.

Too late for what?

For me to protect you,he answered quickly.I’m sorry, my love. I’m so fucking sorry. But this is the only way. I have to…

A sharp pang cut through our bond, drawing a gasp from my throat.Cam?

I’m sorry,he repeated.I love you. I’ll always love you. No matter what.