Page 20 of Eternal

Soren stands to change in my bedroom and returns, typing away about something with his phone in hand. He looks so hot in those sweats and my shirt, his bare feet padding along the hardwood floors. He looks up at me from his phone when he approaches the couch.

“Wanna watch a movie?” He asks.

I smile and nod vigorously. One of my favorite things is watching movies and TV shows, especially after an emotionally draining day like today. He sits on the opposite end of the couch and begins to search for a film to watch. We finally settled on a classic, ‘Misery.’

“I never took you as a fan of horror movies.” Soren casually suggests.

I turn to look him in the eye, “There’s still a lot of things you don’t know about me.”

“Yeah. I suppose you’re right, but I want to know you.”

I huff, “Just be prepared for it to possibly take a while.”

“What happened to you?” His voice is soft and caressing.

I look away from him, unable to face my past, “I’m sure you heard the rumors. Everything they said is true. But it was much worse than what everyone realizes.” Haunting images of Tristan flicker behind my eyes and I shake my head, trying to dispel those thoughts. “Can we just get back to the movie? I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I’m not ready to share it.”

He doesn’t say anything else. Guilt starts to gnaw at me. I shouldn’t have said that; he’s been trying to get to know me. He’s been trying to give me what I want in life. I turn to look at him again, watching his features react to the movie. I don’t want to watch the movie. I just want to watch him. I startle him when I move closer to him. I rest my head on his muscular thigh as I lie on the couch. He stiffens at first, unsure how to react, but relaxes after a moment. His right hand stroked my hair as we watched the movie. With each stroke, my stomach turns more and more. It’s one of the most comforting things someone has ever done to me. I have to stifle a smile as he continues. I fall asleep to the feeling of him continuing to stroke my hair.

I can’t tell if the soothing feeling is from his hand in my hair or watching Annie take a sledgehammer to Paul’s ankles that lulls me to sleep. I’d love to inflict that level of violence onto every motherfucker who has wronged me. Starting with Tristan. That darkness has always lived in me since I was young. I just never acted upon those desires. No, I’m saving years of rage for when Serena finds Tristan.

After the movie ends, I feel Soren carefully stand as though not to wake me. He lifts me and carries me to bed, tucking me in. He stands in front of me, bent at the waist, looking me in the face as he strokes my hair one last time.

Soren presses a kiss to my forehead, whispering, “Goodnight, my darling.”

He climbs into bed on the opposite side and cuddles me into his chest. His arm wrapped firmly around me. I feel safe and cared for for the first time ever. I drift into a deep sleep, but even Soren’s protective grip can’t stop the nightmares from coming to me.

“Freya? Where are you? I have a surprise for you.” Tristan’s voice rings through the air of our otherwise dead townhouse. I stay in place and quiet, curled up under the covers of our bed. I squeeze my eyes closed, hoping he will just leave me alone just for one night. Three other voices ring out of the silence, mocking me for hiding.

Oh. The most horrific night of my life.

The bedroom door creaks open, and the steps of heavy feet surround the bed. Then silence. I stay in place. I can’t decide if I want to fight them or just lay there like a rag doll. The latter will probably be easier. The sheets and blankets that kept me temporarily safe ripped off me. Leaving me bared to all of them. I look at the foot of the bed and find three unfamiliar faces staring back at me, with Tristan sitting in the chair in the bedroom.

“She’s all yours, boys.”

Those four simple words caused a frenzy and my fight or flight instinct to break through. It’s all a blur, the clawing at my clothes, the clinking of belt buckles coming undone, the sound of Tristan’s voice giving me commands I can’t fucking hear, the sound of my breath panting, heart beating so hard, I’m afraid it’ll come out of my chest. With each rough touch, I attempt to fight back, only to be overpowered in the end. The last blow to my face forces me into submission.

It’ll be over quicker if I just lay here.

A pinch, the pressure of fullness in my diaphragm, and three sets of hands roaming my body seal me to my fate. Tears track down my face, but I refuse to cry anymore. I stare at the ceiling as the first, second, and third one rape me.

And the only thing I can keep in my mind is the death of Tristan. But I’m ripped out of the dream before it can repeat. Leaving me at peace.

Chapter eight

Soren

I’msurprisedthatthebuzzing of my phone on the nightstand hasn’t woken Freya. I roll over to her and examine her for a moment before reaching over to my phone. Ten missed calls, 40 emails, and 22 text messages.What the fuck happened?I get out of bed and go to her living room before calling back my assistant.

As I open my mouth to bark at her, I realize I might wake Freya if I am too loud. “What is it, Robin?” I ask quietly, irritation laced in my voice regardless.

“Sir. There’s a problem.”

“There’d better be a fucking problem if you call me at two o’clock in the goddamn morning,” I snarl.

“One of the caretakers was just killed while on the job.”

My eyes widened. That’s a new one. “Who died?”

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