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“You can tell me,” he said, folding his large frame to sit beside me. “Your shirt is soaked with sweat. You were screaming. Tell me the truth, Bex. What happened? What was it?”
“It was a nightmare.” I grumbled, getting back up off the ground. Jackson shifted, and I grabbed my toothbrush to clean the sour taste from my mouth.
His voice was barely audible over the droning water. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“I’m fine, Jack. You should go back to bed. You need your—”
“Don’t finish that sentence.” A growl rumbled in his throat, and he studied the floor. “I’m sick of being kept in the dark.”
“I’m just worried about you. That’s all.” I shook my head and sat down beside him. The clawfoot tub was cold against my spine. “I almost lost you.”
“I could say the same about you,” he said. “You’ve taken a lot of risks lately. You’ve been using a lot of blood magic.”
“I know. It’s probably why the nightmares are starting,” I said.
“Do you want to tell me what it was about?”
I shrugged. “I was dreaming about walking into Viktor’s office. He caught me and…well, you know how he was. Spare the rod, spoil the child.”
“He hurt you?”
“I was in his office without him, what do you think?” I dropped my head back against the tub and stared at the ceiling. “Even dead he’s exhausting.”
“I’m sorry. I knew coming here was a bad idea. There’s too much here. We should go home, or somewhere else. There’s gotta be someplace better for us.” He sighed and kissed my temple. “Maybe the Council could find us a safehouse or something?”
“As much as I hate it, this is where we need to be. The magic etched into this foundation could repel World War III. It’s the safest place there is. Not to mention the resources in the library.”
“The Council has resources too.”
“Do you really want to sit in the car for another six or seven hours driving to wherever they decide to send us? I know you’re almost healed, but you’re still sore. I’ve seen you wincing.”
He pursed his lips. “Fine. You win. We’ll stay here, but I have one condition.”
“Do tell,” I snorted.
“You need to talk to me. You need to tell me what’s going on with you.”
I shifted away from him. “Sitting on the floor can’t be comfortable for you.”
“Stop.” He grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back down, flush against his side. “Just sit and relax. I’m fine. How’s your stomach?”
“It’s fine.” I flashed him my best smile. “Why don’t you get back in bed and I’ll grab some water.”
“You can’t sit still for even a second, can you? Take a breath, woman.”
“I’m—”
“You’re fine. I know.” He rubbed his face with his free hand and exhaled. “You’ve been going nonstop since we found Nadia’s body. You’re gonna crash if you don’t slow down.”
“Slow down?” I arched an eyebrow. “We’re supposed to be investigating a murder, but I haven’t done anything since you were shot. I haven’t left your side.”
“You’re right, you haven’t left my side in days. I can smell the panic in your system. It’s been there since I found you in the cemetery, and it’s only gotten worse. I mean, come on. First you thoughtyouwere the killer, and then you started freaking out because we were getting close to each other again. The shooting just—”
“Made it worse?” I sighed. “Can you blame me? My husband was dying in my arms.”
“Yeah, but I’m alive. I’m healing, and you’re still panicking.” His fingers brushed my skin and I flinched.
“Jack, I—” He pulled away, and an icy blast of air hit the back of my neck. I’d devoted a little time each day to building the walls up around my mind again, but flinching was still a habit I couldn’t shake.Tears blurred my vision. “I wish I could be normal for you. I’m sorry, so sorry.”
