Page 54 of The Alpha's Seer

My nightmare drifts away, but it leaves behind frayed edges, so my vision is still blurred.

“I can see him,” I sob, desperately trying to see the man's face before it fades away.

He's incredibly tall and wide, and he's got a scar over his left lip, but?—

He's gone.

I suck in a gasp of air, certain my lungs are burning from the fire.

Calix seems to understand and lifts me into his arms, striding to the windows overlooking the lake. He pushes on one, and to my surprise, it opens, and we're greeted with ice-cold air. I inhale it like it's running out, tears still streaming down my cheeks as I cling to Calix.

His heart thuds against my chest, and I sink into him, desperate to know he's alive.

“I'm alive,” Calix whispers, falling to his knees with me in his arms. “I'm alive, Blair. I'm here. Look at me.”

It takes everything I have to lift my head, my eyes still stinging from my nightmare.

Calix stares down at me, his furrowed brow easing when we make eye contact. He exhales his relief and strokes my face, his lips grazing my forehead.

“You're safe.” He kisses me again and holds me close, and I never want him to let go.

Never.

“Fire...” I whisper and scrunch my eyes shut, trying to force the nightmare away. “Death. So much death.”

Calix strokes my hair and waits for me to calm down, but I know he's itching to know what I saw.

“I'm okay,” I tell him shakily, lifting my head to gaze at him. “I'll tell you before I forget.”

Calix looks pained, but he nods, still holding me. I want to kiss him, inhale him, and forget all of this. But I can't.

“The land was on fire; I couldn't see.” I chew on my lip until Calix slowly drags it away from my teeth with his thumb. “You were there, but I couldn't see you.” I choke as my throat expands with emotion, and a sob escapes my lips. “I tried to find you...”

Calix tightens his grip as his eyes narrow. His fear and anger radiate from him as I continue.

“Then someone dragged me away.”

Calix stiffens.

“At first I thought it was you, but their fingers hurt too much.” Nausea rolls in my stomach, and I close my eyes, pressing my palms against Calix’s chest. When his presence calms me once more, I continue. “He wore black boots.”

Calix doesn't blink as he stares down at me, his lips parting to let out a rasp. “Go on.”

“He said?—”

I sob, but Calix holds me patiently, stroking my hair and kissing my tears until I can breathe. I've never seen him so caring, so kind. Loving, almost. I'm grateful for it, yet giddy from its all-consuming reality all at once.

“He said his men were going to impregnate the Seer, and I know he meant me. He was staring down at me.”

Calix lets out a growl so deep I scurry back, but he reaches out for me and pulls me back into his arms. He buries his nose into my neck and inhales, the low rumble from his throat preventing him from talking. He holds me so tight I feel like my lungs might combust, but then he kisses me, and my body relaxes. His tongue caresses mine as he holds my face, possessively owning my mouth. He breaks away but rests his forehead on mine, his breath fanning my cheeks.

“No one is going to do that to you,” he says, his voice so deep it sends shivers down my spine. He gazes at me and nods. “Do you understand?”

“No one,” I repeat, my fingers curling into his hair. “No one.”

“Well,” he adds with a chuckle, his fingers gripping the back of my neck as he pulls me closer. “Maybe me.”

My core explodes at his words, and he smirks when I climb onto his lap.