Page 34 of Roman

“A dream?Like a vision?”

“Yes, just that.We have shared many over the years, but they have begun to change.They are no longer safe for you or me.Those demons down there, Charlotte… if they get you, they can kill you, and I don’t just mean in this dream.”

Charlotte shook her head.“I don’t understand.Why have I been having them?Until I saw you that day in the cell, I thought you weren’t real.Just someone I’d conjured up in my mind, someone to save me and keep me safe in my nightmares.”

“I don’t know why I’m here.That is something I cannot answer.Until we met that day, I didn’t think you were real, either.But you need to listen to me now, Charlotte.Roman, myself, and the other angels, we are coming for you.”Armaros quickly looked over the ledge as the sound of hissing and growling came closer.The demons were nearly upon them.

“Do you mean in real life?There is a woman, and she has powers like you.”

Armaros nodded.“Yes, I know.Do not anger her.She is very dangerous.Do you know her name?”he asked quickly, moving to the cliff edge and kicking a demon back over the side.

“The men with her called her Tora,” Charlotte told him, remembering the guards talking to the woman once they’d arrived at the warehouse.

Armaros spun so fast he made her jump in fright.She’d never seen someone look so stunned.He stood, staring at Charlotte, his expression a mixture of pain and disbelief.He turned, booting another monster off the cliff.“It’s no longer safe here,” he snapped over his shoulder, punching and kicking two more off the ledge.

He took two long strides and grabbed Charlotte’s arm, looking at her, his eyes now glowing bright.“It is time to wake up now, Charlotte,” he said as he raised his right hand and gently touched his fingers to her temple.

* * *

Charlotte openedher eyes and shot up on the brown, dusty, run-down couch she’d fallen asleep on.Her head was spinning from the conversation she’d just had with Armaros in the dream or vision or whatever the hell it was she’d just had.His words still whispered in her mind.

We are coming for you.

Roman would save heragain.Just knowing the giant angel was coming to get her caused a wave of emotions to hit her all at once.Her fear ebbed, knowing someone knew where she was.And yet another feeling swirled in her chest, pulling at her heart.This angel, this golden-haired, drop-dead gorgeous angel, was risking his life to save her.

Guilt shot through her.She never should have left his mansion.She should have just asked him to go check her apartment himself.But she didn’t trust him—he was still a stranger, no matter how badly her body betrayed her when he was near.Charlotte didn’t know why, but Roman made her feel things she’d never felt before, and she didn’t even know the guy.No, not guy, angel.A fallen angel.

“Have a nightmare, did we?”Tora asked.

Charlotte didn’t realize the silver-haired witch was sitting in a chair across from her.

She knows,she thought, panicking.She shook her head, trying to act as normal as possible.“Being kidnapped tends to make people jumpy,” she snapped back.

Charlotte had reached her breaking point.When they brought her to this warehouse the night before, they shoved her on this couch, and no one had bothered to talk to her or explain anything.She was thirsty, starving, and would kill for a shower.

They’d given her a small bottle of water the night before, which was long gone, and one guard threw a cold slice of pizza at her during the early hours of the morning.Looking at the dirty windows high above her, she could see the sun was setting.It had been one of the longest days of her life.

People were buzzing around the warehouse, loading things into three black SUVs parked by one of the giant doors.There were pallets loaded with boxes everywhere; some had what looked like metal ammo boxes on them, like ones Charlotte had seen in movies, while others had long wooden crates stacked high.

Down at the back of the warehouse, Charlotte could see a small, windowed office.Next to that was a door that led to a small bathroom.From what she could tell from the times she’d kicked up a fuss and they’d finally walked her to the bathroom, there were two large roller doors at the front of the warehouse, and they were the only way in and out.

“I would watch your tone if I were you.I’m in no mood,” Tora told her, annoyed.

Armaros’s warning rang through her mind.Don’t anger her.

“Look, can I please have something to eat and some water?I’m starving.I’m dying of thirst.What harm can come of giving me some food and water?”

Tora stared at her for what seemed like an eternity, then simply nodded and rose from the chair.The witch snapped orders to the closest guards, telling one to go find some food for Charlotte and another to get her some water.

Charlotte sat back on the couch, waiting for her water.She chanced a peek over at the wall to her right.A young man with what used to be sandy brown hair, now stained deep red from blood, hung from a hook above.His skin appeared to be burning from the silver chain wrapped around his hands.

They had dragged him in during the early hours of the morning, the commotion having woken her.They’d tied the man to a chair at the back of the warehouse where Charlotte couldn’t see what was happening.But then she didn’t need to see.She could hear the torture and the agony of the man’s screams.From what she’d overheard, he was a Lycan, whatever that was.Obviously not human.

They continued to torture him well into the day.By the angry yelling and cursing from the guards, he hadn’t given them anything.They’d given up around mid-day when they dragged out his bloodied, limp, unconscious body and hung him up on the hook.

Tora returned after that and walked up to the man, eyes glowing purple, murmuring to herself as she touched his forehead, then simply left.The poor guy had been unconscious ever since.

“You’re Charlotte, aren’t you?”the bloodied man whispered.

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