Page 21

Ronan

S he’s falling apart in my arms, and I have no idea how to help.

Her mother? What does her mother have to do with any of this?

I looked into her life, rather deeply if I do say so myself, and there was not one single mention of her biological family.

Her parents were never in the picture. Why is this happening now?

“Baby girl, I need you to breathe. Words, gorgeous.”

She’s looking up at me with such vulnerability, it’s hard not to fall apart myself. But I hold it together for her.

Reaching up, I wipe a tear from her cheek, and her sniffles begin to slow. She takes a deep breath in and grabs my arm.

“My mom.. Sh-she’s not human. She’s b-back and she said she needs me to continue her legacy.

She said that she’s a dream walker, a goddess, Lilith.

I don’t know what any of this means. I’m so confused,” she screeches out between sobs.

“The only op-options she gave me were to take the life of someone I care about.” She chokes out, the tears flowing freely now.

Like waterfalls straight from her eyes. “Or to k-kill myself,” she says, breaking down again.

She reaches behind her, grabbing a mess of crumpled foliage.

“She says a handful of these berries will be enough to stop my heart from beating.” She looks up at me blankly as if she’s in some sort of trance.

I grab her face between my palms. She can’t be thinking that she’s going to do this to herself. I won’t fucking allow it.

She’s mine .

“No. A, whatever you’re thinking, you need to stop right now. I’m going to find a way to get you out of this, I don’t care what I have to do, but I’m not. Fucking. Losing you.” The words fall out of my mouth, a promise to her I will not go back on.

I don’t care what I have to do. I would rather lay myself out on a silver platter and be served to the old Gods like their next offering than to let her have to go through one more second of pain. My little nightmare will always be worth so much more than she will ever believe.

I no longer have the time to help her see this. None of this makes sense, but nothing with her has ever been that easy. And I'm just realizing that maybe it’s not supposed to be.

I’m not supposed to understand how someone like her chose someone like me.

How she makes every room light up and darken at the same time, her macabre personality melting into the walls and filling every inch with her presence.

She’s indescribable, someone I would lay my life down for without an inch of hesitation.

“I’ll take care of you, I promise, baby.”

The words float around the room. The weight of my words lay heavy on me as I notice her form dissolve into the darkness. Her body drifts away like candle smoke, too delicate to chase.

My little nightmare.

I spend the next few hours stuck in the dream world, going over my new plan. Aisling’s mom can’t have her, so I’m going to sacrifice myself. Can’t have my little candlelight snuffed out just yet.

I manage to get the weird bundle of black berries and bell-shaped flowers back to the real world.

I spend hours dealing with my body, feeling like I'm waking up from an all-night bender. The nausea, vertigo, and dissociation I feel leave me unsure if I was dreaming or dying, but turns out, it’s neither.

I’m able to find more about the mysterious berries, too. They’re called belladonna, a plant in the nightshade family historically used for its medicinal properties and, unfortunately, as a poison. A handful of them, and I’ll be getting sent straight to death’s door .

I decide quickly after that I can’t waste another moment before I see my little nightmare again.

Making my way to the coffee shop, I go over everything that’s happened over the last few days. I’m still unsure of whether dream Aisling and real-life her are one and the same, but I won’t, even for a second, risk my chances if they are.

The door dings, signaling my arrival at The Potion Press. I’m instantly greeted by the most beautiful deep blue eyes, like staring into the deepest depths of the Mariana Trench. My stomach shifts, and I feel warmth spreading across my body as I match her smile.

Mine.

“Ronan! I’m so happy you’re here!” Scrambling, she walks around the counter before straightening her flowy mushroom-patterned skirt.

“I had to come see my favorite girl,” I quip back, causing a pinkish red color to blossom across her cheeks.

She pauses and looks around cautiously, as if looking for prying ears.

“I actually had a favor I need to ask of you,” she responds sheepishly.

I rub the pad of my thumb against her cheek in a calming motion.

“Whatever you need, little candlelight. I’ll take care of it.” I respond without hesitation.

I would crack my ribs open, pull my heart out, and gift it to her in my dying hands if she requested it.

“I’ve been having a really hard time sleeping lately. I’m not sure what's happening but there’s just some weird shit going on that I don't think I can really explain to you right now. And I just don’t want to be there tonight,” she whispers to me, careful of any customers who might overhear.

I grab her hand and lean down to her ear. “What part of ‘whatever you need, I’ll take care of it did you not understand, my love?” I growl protectively.

“I’ll pick you up when you get off work, and we can chill at my place tonight. See you at three, gorgeous.”

Shooting her a quick wink and a small smirk, I turn and head for the exit. I can smell her excitement as she watches me leave, waving goodbye shyly.