Page 107 of Taken By the Fae

Sitting at the end of my bed with the lamplight behind him is Jules.

I blink hard, but he’s still there. “N-no…”

He shoots me an easy grin, as if the fact he’s sitting in my room a week after I killed him is amusing.

“You’re dead,” I force out, my voice raspy.

He nods.

My head shakes. “Why—how—are you here?”

He blinks once. Twice. Doesn’t say a word.

I narrow my eyes, closing my hands into fists at my sides. “What, you’re not going to talk?” A bitter burst of laughter escapes my lips. “You ruined my life and now you’ve got nothing to say?” The anger in my voice echoes through the room as if it’s empty, and when I glance around, I find it is. Every piece of furniture save for my bed is gone. My eyes snap back to Jules, but he’s no longer there. I blink, and we’re at The Iron Lounge where I…

Jules slams into me, knocking us both to the hard floor. I gasp, forcing air back into my lungs as he hangs over me, baring his razor-sharp teeth. He reaches back and pulls out an iron stake. My eyes widen at the sight.Why isn’t it burning him?Before I can fight back or roll away, he drives the stake into my chest, stealing the breath from my lungs. Searing pain explodes in my whole body, but when I scream, no sound comes out. I try to push him away as he pulls the stake out, but I can’t move. He lifts his arm and then brings the stake down again. The stone cold, unforgiving iron pierces my heart—

My eyes fly open, and a high-pitched, ear-curdling scream fills the room. I shoot upright and reach around until I find the lamp on the table beside me, flicking it on, still gasping for air. My hair is damp and sticking to my forehead. The rest of my body is in a cold sweat.

I jump at the sudden pounding at my door. Scrambling out of bed, I start toward it before hesitating a few feet away.

“Aurora.” Nikolai’s voice startles me, but I step forward and unlock the door, opening it a few inches. He’s dressed in the same clothes I saw him in at the pub, along with a black leather jacket.

“What are you doing here?” My quiet voice breaks, and I cringe inwardly.

The green in his eyes is too bright, wild. “I was coming over to see you.” His brows tug closer. “You screamed as I was about to knock.”

My bottom lip trembles; I’m not fully awake yet. “I…” Fucking hell, I shouldnotbe showing this guy weakness, but even if I wanted to put on a brave face of indifference, I can’t right now.

His eyes flicker across my face, and he pushes the door open a bit more. “Why are you shaking?” When I step back, he takes it as an invitation and enters the room, closing the door behind him. “What happened?”

I press my lips together until my teeth bite into them and it becomes uncomfortable. “He was here,” I mumble.

“Who?” he asks in a calm voice, peering carefully around the room, his gaze focused, then returns his attention to me.

“J-Jules.” Saying his name brings hot tears to my eyes, and I try to wipe them away before Nikolai can see. “Nothere,” I explain. “In my dream.”

He frowns, raking his finger through the mess of black hair on the top of his head. “You had a nightmare about Jules.” It isn’t a question, but I nod anyway.

“It was like the day I killed him, except it went the other way around, and he…” My voice trails off, and I swallow the lump in my throat.

“Killed you?” he offers.

I sniffle. “Yeah.”

He nods, then steps forward and tweaks my chin. “Head up, gorgeous. You survived him. Don’t forget that.”

The smile that touches my lips surprises me, and I meet his gaze. “Thanks, Nikolai.”

He nods. “I’ll let you get back to bed.”

I exhale a heavy sigh, the thought of falling asleep again making my stomach clench with unease. “What time is it?”

“Just after one,” he answers.

I arch a brow at him. “And you were coming to see me?”

He laughs. “Yeah, but it can wait. It’s late, and you’re upset.”

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