Page 60 of Midnight Reign
I cup her face gently. “I’m sorry. I had to shock Crimson out of control. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
She leans into my touch. “No, don’t apologise. You brought me back. Thank you.”
“Do you know what triggered her to take over?”
“My hunger. I knew it as soon as I felt I needed blood. She took the opening and ran with it.”
“No shit, princess.”
She smiles weakly. “I can’t let that happen again. We need to get her out of my body.”
“But what happens when we do? Seriously. All this talk about her going off happily to this other dimension is, well, let’s just say it sounds a bit too good to be true.”
“It’s all she wants. She doesn’t want to be here.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“As I can be.”
“And what about all these visions of war and destruction?”
Her eyes stare into mine, finding a depth that no other being has ever managed to achieve. “That’s what happens if we don’t give her what she wants.”
I take that in and process it slowly. “I see. So, we have no choice.”
She shakes her head. “I’m trying to be upbeat about it, to make it sound like it’s no big deal, but I’m scared, Zephyr.”
I wrap my arms around her again as she sinks against my chest. “I know. But you don’t need to be. We won’t let you fall, Adelaide.”
“It’s not her I’m scared of.”
“Then who? Randall?”
Addy shakes her head, her eyes downcast. “No, not Randall. I’m scared of myself. Of what I might become.”
I tilt her chin up, forcing her to meet my gaze. “What do you mean?”
She takes a shaky breath. “When Crimson took over, it felt good. Powerful. A part of me didn’t want to let go of that feeling. What if I’m not strong enough to resist it next time?”
I consider her words carefully. “That power is a part of you, princess. It doesn’t have to be something to fear. You just need to learn how to control it, not let it control you.”
“But what if I can’t?” she whispers.
“Then we’ll be here to help you,” I say firmly.
She nods, but I can see the doubt lingering in her eyes. I pull her closer, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“Come on,” I say, helping her to her feet. “We should get back to the others. Shit is about to hit the fan.”
“Hasn’t it already?” she asks with a weak laugh.
“Oh, princess. You haven’t seen anything yet. Dad’s on his way here, and that is never a good thing.”
“Your dad? How can you tell?”
“The shadows are cowering with fear.”
26
