Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“That I had good reason to go into Rage for Molly,” Torus said simply. “You see, I’ve been having dreams about her.”
Sylvan’s face smoothed out.
“So you’re Dream-Sharing with her? That means you’re meant to be together! Why—the two of you are practically as good as Bonded.”
“No, you don’t understand.” Torus shook his head. “I can’t Bond with a human female and I don’t feel that way towards Molly. Besides, I haven’t been having dreams of her everyday activities.”
“Then what kind of dreams are you having?” Sylvan asked, his brow wrinkling in confusion.
Torus took a deep breath.
“I believe I’ve been having dreams about her past. About the period when she was living with her ex-Mate,” he admitted.
“You have?” Sylvan frowned. “That’s very strange—I’ve never heard of that particular kind of Dream-Sharing before.”
“I don’t even think it is Dream-Sharing,” Torus told him. “Because the only parts I see of her past life are the bad parts. And Commander Sylvan, what I see….the way he treated her—” He broke off, shaking his head as he remembered the terrible things he’d endured along with Molly in his dreams.
“So he did abuse her physically then,” Sylvan said in a low voice.
“He abused her sexually.” Torus had a hard time getting the words out. “He forced her over and over. He…” He had to take another deep breath as the emotions of fear and pain he’d felt coming from Molly in the dreams overwhelmed him. The feeling of being dirty and used and worthless after the forcing was so strong it made his stomach ache.
“Hey…” Commander Sylvan put a hand on his arm. “I can see these dreams have really affected you, Brother,” he murmured.
“They have.” Torus nodded. “Because I don’t just see things in the dreams—I feel them. I feel what Molly felt when…when those things were done to her,” he admitted. “As though they’re being done to me. I feel her pain and her shame and her helplessness…”
“That must be difficult to bear,” Sylvan said in a low voice.
“It was even harder for Molly!” Torus growled. “The way that bastard treated her—hurt her…” He broke off and ran a hand through his hair. “Anyway, I’ve been having these dreams for months—so I already wanted to kill the son-of-a-bitch, even before he sent that vid of her to our whole department. I just didn’t know who he was or where to find him.”
“Well, you certainly found out,” Sylvan said dryly.
“I did. And then I had to act—I had to take vengeance for her and make sure he could never hurt her again!” Again Torus heard the protective growl in his own voice but he didn’t try to hide it. “He’s almost your size,” he added. “Which is large for a human. And you see how little and delicate Molly is. The idea of him hurting her…forcing her…”
“I understand.” Sylvan nodded. “But why couldn’t you tell me this in the meeting with Molly and Councilor Paige?”
“Because Molly doesn’t know about my dreams—she doesn’t know that I know everything her ex-Mate did to her,” Torus said. “I think she probably wants to forget it if she can. So if she doesn’t say anything, I can’t either—I don’t wish to shame her.”
“There should be no shame for victims of sexual assault.” Commander Sylvan looked angry. “But I understand you perfectly—the humans have made it a shameful thing—mostly for the victims. Or survivors as they prefer to call themselves,” he added.
“You know something about it, then?” Torus asked, raising his eyebrows.
Sylvan nodded.
“My own mate, Sophia, experienced an assault before I met her. I went and took revenge on her behalf.”
“Then you understand the situation I was in,” Torus said earnestly.
“Of course I do—though I’m not sure that you do.” Commander Sylvan said, giving him a sharp glance. “You wouldn’t be Dream-Sharing with Molly and going into Rage for her if you truly had no feelings for her other than those of a boss for a subordinate.”
Torus felt his heart squeeze in his chest as he remembered how soft and warm Molly had felt in his arms. How he longed to hug her and hold her again… and heal her—the little bird with the broken wing. But no—he would only hurt her if they got too close. Resolutely, he shook his head.
“Believe me, Commander, I’m not trying to Bond her to me. In fact, I don’t want to Bond with any human female. I think maybe the Goddess just sent me those dreams so I could take vengeance for Molly and end the harassment she’s been enduring from her ex-Mate for years.” He shrugged. “So now my job is done.”
“Not quite, I’m afraid,” Sylvan told him. “Because we still have to deal with the lawsuit her ex-Mate is bringing against the Kindred.”
Torus lifted his head.
“I’m willing to testify in the human court if I have to.”