Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 264(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 264(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
“Just like I don’t know why we’re going to St. Thomas,” she said. “Don’t you think it’s time to start trusting me?”
She was right. She’d showed some very large balls along with loyalty when she stabbed King in the back. “We’re going to see my mother.”
Her hazel eyes went wide. “Your mother.”
I nodded. “If she doesn’t have answers, then I am out of people to ask, which means I’ll be going head-to-head with the Seers and Ten Club on my own.” I would be flying blind, and that was not ideal.
“Then let’s hope she knows something,” Piper said and closed her eyes, wincing.
“Does your head hurt again?”
“Yeah. I don’t know why.”
It was because I went looking around, and her mind did not like it. “Breathe slowly. In a moment, your pain will be gone,” I commanded.
With her eyes still closed, she inhaled and produced a soft smile.
“Better?” I asked.
She leaned her head against my shoulder and sighed. “Better.”
I stared for a moment, fighting the warm feeling in my chest. I was enjoying being near her too much. Not a good thing when it was one man against a world full of sick animals. There was no room for temptation or weaknesses. You’re going to be the death of me, Piper.
“Do not do that.” I gently pushed her head from my shoulder and shifted my body away.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Piper
I couldn’t remember my dream, but whatever Draco had seen wasn’t good. I just didn’t understand his agitation. I’d done nothing wrong.
As the plane landed, he made it a point not to look at me, which was strange. By now, he had to know I was here because I wanted to help. Maybe our motives weren’t the same, but we both had things we wanted to save, and that was enough for me.
Draco’s hand squeezed the edge of the armrest as the plane slowed on the runway. He didn’t appear to enjoy flying much. I guessed if I’d been locked in a basement my entire life, I wouldn’t like the modern world much either.
“You’ll get used to it.” I rested my hand over his, trying to comfort him, but he recoiled and pulled his hand away.
The gesture stung. Why the sudden coldness? I’d stepped in and saved him. I’d proven I could be trusted, and let’s not forget he could hear my thoughts anyway. I was an open book. Also, according to him, we had a connection. His sudden unfriendliness didn’t fit, and the only thing that had happened since we’d gotten on the plane was that I’d taken a nap.
“Draco, listen to me. Apparently, we’re doing this together—whatever this is. So you have to start telling me what’s going on.” I drew a breath. “What happened when I was asleep?”
“Nothing.”
“You asked me to trust you, and that’s what I’m doing. So…?”
“And I am still asking. It was nothing—nothing I wish to discuss.”
Oh, no. He was not getting away with that. “Draco,” I said sternly, “you’re the one who thinks our paths crossed for a reason. So you either trust that feeling, or you don’t. But if you do, then stop shutting me out. What happened?”
He looked down at his lap, stewing for a moment. “You were dreaming, and I saw you begging me for death.”
Oh.
He continued, “And you were happily willing to accept degrading forms of sex and abuse in lieu of that.”
He was worried about that? I felt relieved. “I would never ask for those things. It was just a nightmare—like any other.”
I stared for a moment, but he didn’t acknowledge my comment.
“You’ve had nightmares before, right?” I asked.
“Just the one I lived in for almost thirty years.”
“Well, I guarantee you the bad dreams are always the most realistic and scary. One minute, you’re being chased by knife-wielding squirrels, and the next you’re drowning in acorns.”
He gave me a look.
“There’s no rationale behind any of it.” Over the last few months, I’d repeatedly had dreams of paying a thousand dollars for fixtures and then discovering they were made of wax. They melted when I tried to use them. “Dreams are abstract versions of our fears. The brain plays them out so it can let off steam. It’s healthy.”
“I know what a dream is, Piper. I am an expert on them. But yours was different.”
“How?” I asked.
He didn’t reply.
“Okay, well, if I ever end up begging you to torture me, then, yes, please kill me. I’d rather be dead then someone’s S and M plaything.”
Draco looked uneasy.
“Relax. I am not serious. And that was just a dream.”
He gave me a stern look. “Then why can’t you remember?”
I blinked. “I don’t know. Most people forget their dreams.”
He turned his body, quietly losing his temper. “This was not a dream, Piper. It was a memory.”
“Really? Then why am I not begging you to have sex with me? It wasn’t real, Draco. Now tell me, what’s our plan? What am I supposed to do while you meet your mother for the first time?”