Page 17 of Devastation
His words make my hackles raise, as a foreboding feeling comes over me.
Right when I finally think we're slowly getting our shit together, suddenly there's a secret coming to the surface. This has to be what I was picking up on earlier when he was zoning out.
Swallowing down the lump in my throat, I nod against his chest. "Okay."
His arms fall to the side, but he grabs my elbow, guiding me to the bed to sit with him. My heart starts racing as my mind fills with terrifying scenarios and possibilities. I take a deep, steadying breath, working to steady my nerves with the assurance that we can tackle anything together.
Hale shifts slightly, bringing his hands to rest in his lap while nervously twiddling with his fingers. As he speaks, he doesn't meet my eyes, choosing instead to look at his hands, "When we were in the witch realm, there was a dark witch who surfaced and challenged Serenity to a duel for the title of Queen."
My eyebrows shoot up in shock at that bit of information. I hope Serenity whooped her ass.
"The dark witch was extraordinarily powerful and reminded us of Anshar with her black, dark-veined eyes. The duel ended up being a vicious battle—she was joined by shadowmen who were, from a tactical standpoint, extremely hard to best."
I nod along as he explains. His piercing blue eyes come up to hold my gaze. "One of them was able to get its hands on my head and, from my understanding, seeped a bit of its darkness into me."
Shivers run through me as tears prick at my eyes. No. I can't lose another mate to Erebus' darkness. I just fucking can't.
We barely survived Ash going through this.
Sniffling back the onslaught of emotions, I continue to listen to his story, holding off my questions until he's done.
"The shadowmen touched Serenity in a couple of places and badly wounded her at the time, but it seems that when they're able to touch yourmind, it's different. Worse. Erebus visited me in a dream and it ended in me..." he falters, struggling to get out his next words, "killing you with my own hands."
Flinching at the mental image, I pause for a few moments before I respond.
With a shaky voice, I start, "So...do you know how to be rid of this touch yet?"
"Yes. We met with a soul guide named Elizabeth, and she told us it was very simple. Surprisingly simple, honestly."
I nod eagerly, ready for him to elaborate on that excellent piece of news. He reaches out to grab my hand and squeezes, "All I have to do is keep denying the darkness, and eventually it will lose its grip on me. It can only delve into my mind further if I give in to the whispers of temptation."
"That seems way too simple. Too good to be true," I murmur skeptically while brushing my thumb against his hand.
A soft sigh escapes him before he answers. "It sounds simple, but the way the darkness seeps into your mind and feeds you thoughts subtly is extremely deceptive. I've been managing to hold it at bay, but I'm scared that one day I may not be able to."
My heart squeezes at the sorrow in his voice. I'm eternally grateful he's allowing himself to be vulnerable with me and admit that something is wrong. That's the most important piece of this—that he's allowing others to help.
My voice trembles slightly as I ask, “What...what do they whisper to you?”
He inhales a deep breath and looks at the ceiling as he blows it out. Moving his gaze upon me he answers, “They constantly tell me to kill those around me. To make decisions that would be catastrophic for us.”
Swallowing down a lump lodged in my throat I watch his head turn and hand down as if in shame. He whispers, “I won’t let them win.”
Reaching up with my free hand, I caress his cheek, and he quickly leans into the touch, closing his eyes as I assure him, "You aresostrong. You've always been my anchor in life, and now it's my turn to be yours. Tell me anytime they're whispering to you, and I'll be here to ground you. We'll get through this together. Okay?"
His eyes open, his gaze locking onto my face, and what I see there knocks the breath out of me. The heat in his eyes is back, making me instantly shift my legs together as a heat swells between them. I hesitate for a moment before deciding that I need to follow Hale's advice and stop overthinking things.
Rising, I take a step and turn to face him, moving forward to stand between his long legs. Gently, I place my hand on his muscular chest, enjoying the way his hard lines feel under my palm. As I push, he takes my lead and lies on his back. Placing a knee on either side of him on the bed, I crawl forward a few inches before settling above him.
Sinking down, I feel my white nightgown ride up my legs and to my hips. Hale's hands follow the path, rubbing his palms against each inch of exposed flesh as it's presented to him. My nerves feel like they're lit on fire in the trail of his touch.
The thin scrap of underwear does nothing to keep me from feeling every inch of his hard outline, and I find myself grinding lightly against him as his hands pull the hem of my nightgown up past my hips. Abruptly, he sits up, using his momentum to pull the fabric off me completely as I raise my arms to assist.
My nipples instantly pebble as the cold air hits them, and goosebumps break out along my skin. The cold sensation doesn't last long as his hands come up to palm my breasts fully, stoking the fire between my legs.
A soft moan slips from my mouth as my head hangs back and I float in the sensations. Flashes of the memory of Anshar touching my body try to assault my brain, and I feel my body clench in fear.I bite my lip harshly, using the pain to ground myself in the present.
Bringing my hands up to cup his around my breasts, I focus on the feel of his smooth skin and the heat of him.
