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“You bastard!” Eric shouted.
I couldn’t believe it. I shook my head, sick to my stomach.
Vincent smiled, victorious. “It’s all true. I’m sure Eric would love to tell you all about Karina, but sadly there’s no time. Now you are going to feel some of the pain your family caused mine over the years.”
“What have we ever done to you?”
“Again, no time, my pet.” He grabbed my forearms and squeezed.
A surge of his energy slammed into me. Suddenly, I was hit with a sharp, stabbing pain in my head, so much so I screamed out. “Stop! Please!” It was pain like I had never experienced. I thought my head might split open.
“Leave her alone!” I barely made out Eric’s voice before he was screaming out in pain too.
The pain became so bad I wished for death, but before I blacked out, I called out to my mother. Mom.
Sorrel.
The Selene family is here. We’re going to die. I love you.Chapter Twenty-OneEric
Eric felt something wet and rough licking his cheek. He tried opening his eyes, but he was having a hard time. His head pounded, and for some reason he couldn’t remember, he didn’t want to wake up. The persistent licking kept rousing him. “Stop,” he groaned.
He peeked one eye open, and all he could see was white fur. It was then he remembered where he was and why. Both eyes flew open, and he realized half his face was plastered against Sorrel’s hardwood floor and his hands were tied behind his back. Even his feet had been restrained.
Tara nudged Eric with her cold nose as if begging him to get up.
“I can’t, little one. But I’m glad you’re alive.” He thought for sure her nine lives had been used up. He felt like at least half of his were gone. His entire body screamed from his sadistic family using their powers against him.
Tara nudged him some more.
“It’s no use.” Eric noticed the early-morning light filtering in through the window. It must be hours since they had taken her and her book. “She’s probably already dead.” The thought brought tears to his eyes.
Tara batted his face as if slapping him for saying such a thing.
“I’m sorry, I tried to do the right thing. I should have known better. The curse always wins.”
Tara continued to assault him. He let her. What else could he do? Besides, he thought he deserved it. Even so . . . perhaps he could find out if Sorrel still lived. Though if she did, maybe she had woken up already, like him. He debated trying. If she was gone, he didn’t want to know, yet he hated to think of the terror she must be in if she still lived. That more than anything convinced him to try and break into her dreams.
He closed his eyes and focused in on her. The hurt in her eyes when she found out about his betrayal. Her trembling body in the grasp of his father. Soon Eric saw her door; the pink was paler this time. His heart sank, but at least she was still alive. He slowly opened it, afraid to see what was on the other side. When he got a good look, he was relieved to find her in the vineyard with the same man as always. Though this time she was shuddering against him, sobbing. It broke Eric’s heart. Especially since it was all his fault.
The man who held her zeroed in on Eric. “Protect her,” he mouthed.
Who was this man? He wondered if Sorrel even knew who he was, or that she was constantly dreaming about him. There was so much about the beautiful woman he wondered about, but there was no time to find out. There never would be.
The man lifted Sorrel’s chin, smiled, and spoke to her too quietly for Eric to hear what was said. As soon as the man vanished, Sorrel faced Eric with her tear-streaked cheeks, wearing the revealing nightshirt his father had abducted her in. The thought gave him chills. His father had better keep his filthy hands off her.
“Sorrel,” Eric whispered.
She ran from him into her bakery. A space where Eric was sure she felt safe. How he wished they could stay in her dream and never leave. How he wanted nothing more than to keep her safe.
He followed. “Sorrel, please, stop. I’m so sorry.”
She melted onto a white chair and covered her face with her hands. “You stole my book. I’m going to die.”
He knelt in front of her and rested a hand on her bare knee.
She flinched. “Don’t touch me.”
Eric dropped his hand. “Listen to me, there may be time. Do you know where you are?”
Her head stayed buried in her hands. “No. I hurt all over.”
“I know. You were poisoned with the water in your blood. It will take some time to wear off, but you need to stay strong. Remember, you told me you were brave.”
