Page 31 of The Silent Mountain
That’s enough! I don’t need to see more; I just need to wake her up now. “Alana,” I call out, finally allowing my beastly side to come forward and to have his instincts take over. I hurry to her, wrapping my arms around her to stop her from hurting herself or from lunging upwards and running, possibly hurting someone on the run.
She would never forgive herself if she hurt someone accidentally.
She gasps for air like she is drowning. I make sure to hug her against my chest. Whatever it was haunting her seems to disappear, and her body stops trembling and convulsing, as she calms down, only shivering slightly.
“Alana,” I whisper.
She blinks her eyes open, beautiful green eyes looking at me. Then, she throws her arms around me and buries her head in my chest. “You are well, you are alright.”
“Of course I am alright,” I say, gently brushing her back and hugging her. “It was just a nightmare,” I reassure her.
Though the word ‘just’is clearly an understatement. That wasn’tjusta nightmare, and there is nothing I can say to reassure her or me. “If you think I will ever let you sleep on your own again, you are wrong,” I mutter.
She smacks my back. “It was my idea to begin with. Don’t take credit for it.”
“You are right,” I say quietly. “You had this perfect idea. I’m just going to expand it for a longer time.”
I can’t believe how important she has become to me. Alana and I started as reluctant mates, with a mutual understanding and respect for each other that grew into friendship. And now, I just can’t let her go anymore.
*ALANA*
Favian has taken most of the day off to make sure we research my nightmares. He calls for Cassie to join us after we’ve had breakfast–a very lavish breakfast. I have the feeling he wants to make sure I get as much energy as possible and forget about the scare I had earlier.
Then, like it’s the most normal thing in the world, I move my stuff into Favian’s chambers. Not all of it, though. I like to have my own space, as well, a place for me to retreat to, and Favian very much respects that.
“Alright,” Cassie frowns while she studies the room. “So, it happened here as well.”
Stefan has accompanied Cassie to Favian’s chambers, worried by what Favian has told him about my nightmare. Actually, his retelling shocked me; I didn’t know my reaction to the nightmare was that violent.
“Something is off,” Favian says.
“Could it be that I am cursed?” I ask.
“I don’t get these vibes from you,” Cassie muses.
“But then, you aren’t the world’s best witch, are you? Can you be certain the princess isn’t cursed?” Stefan asks.
Cassie turns red with embarrassment at his question, and I do feel sorry for her. Clearly, Stefan could have voiced his words more kindly, but he isn’t wrong either. I’ve noticed that he is very protective of his king and doesn’t like him or anyone close to him to be endangered.
“It almost looked like something was possessing Alana,” Favian says. “But I can’t feel another presence around her.”
What do you think, Ros?
No, there isn’t anything inside us, not that I know of,Ros says, but she is worried also.When you have these nightmares, it’s as if I’m blocked out, Alana.
“Ros says it feels like I’m blocking her out in these moments,” I explain to Favian.
“That’s not very reassuring,” he mutters
“I could try something,” Cassie offers. “I can make a mixture of herbs and incense, and burn it here with Alana in the room. We would know if she is cursed then. That way, we can at least exclude the curse.”
“Better than nothing,” Favian says.
Cassie looks relieved that he doesn’t shut down her idea immediately and dashes away, while Stefan, Favian and I stay back in the bedroom. Stefan inspects the room with a frown. “I don’t get any weird vibes here either, but that’s no guarantee there’s nothing lingering in the air.”
“But if it’s in the room, wouldn’t it affect Favian too?” I ask.
“Not if it’s something specifically against wolves,” Stefan says.
