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Daemon is silent for a long time after I finish my story. As I try to move off his lap, his arms around me tighten. He spreads his legs and allows me to slide to the ground between them, my back resting against his chest and my head on his shoulder.
“Stay with me like this for a moment, please,” he whispers. There’s a roughness in his voice when he speaks. Vibrations travel through his body and into me. His arms tighten, and his fingers twitch where they rest on my hip and stomach.
“Daemon?” I say hesitantly, worried by the mix of emotions I sense from him. Anger and pain being the strongest of them.
“I just need a minute,” he grates out through clenched teeth.
Snuggling deeper into his embrace, I place a hand on his where it rests on my stomach and grip his arm with the other, holding him in place. “We can stay here as long as you need.”
We watch in silence as the sun dips behind the trees in the distance, painting the sky in beautiful shades of yellows, oranges, pinks, and blues. When almost all of the light has faded, and the sky is a deep red and purple, Daemon takes a deep breath. “You know, Sid killed Gemma. To hear what he and his men did to you … Eden, I’ll—”
“I know.” I tighten my hold on his arm, grounding him. “I am okay. Is it hard to talk about? Yes, of course it is. I had a mini panic attack just thinking about it. Do I still want my pound of flesh from them? Fuck yes, I do, and I’ll have it sooner or later. But am I going to allow them to rule my life, to have control over what I do, how I feel? Not a chance in hell. I’m stronger now, and I’m in control.”
Daemon presses a kiss to my hair. “I know you are. But I still want to kill the man. I want justice for Gemma and revenge for you.”
I lace our fingers together, lifting his hand and place a kiss to each of his knuckles. “That’s sweet of you, and I promise, you’ll have justice for Gemma. I’ll help you get it.”
We fall back into a comfortable silence, watching as the stars blink awake in the night sky. One, then three, then a blanket of dancing light under the bright full moon. A calmness washes over me, wrapped in Daemon’s arms, staring up at the night sky. It’s a feeling I’ve never experienced before.
* * *
I’m thrownto the floor, landing on my hip. When I open my mouth to cry out in pain, nothing comes out. I’m shoved to my back and invisible hands grab my wrists and ankles, pinning me in place.
This isn’t right. Where’s Daemon? We were just in the garden gazing at the stars and watching the fireflies dance in the night. How did I get here?
The bite of cold steel skims along the exposed skin of my neck, following the line of my collarbone.
Not again. Fight back, dammit, fight back.I scream at myself inside my head, still unable to find my voice.
I will my arms and legs to move, to pull against the hands holding me in place, but my body refuses to obey my commands.
A shiver of cold dread travels down my spine. The fabric of my tank top splits at the collar under the force of the blade. Two large hands grip the neck of my top and yank forcefully, ripping the knitted material in two.
Then my shorts, panties, and bra until I’m lying naked on the cool floor.
Get up and move your ass, Eden. What the fuck is wrong with you?
A faint light illuminates the monster with a scar, that bisects his right brow, one I know I’ve seen before, as he looms over me. Eyes as dark as night holding pure evil in their depths stare down at me. A smirk ticks up one side of his face, and a scream builds in the back of my throat, cutting off my airway.
No. No. No. Stop. Please, stop.
The world around me quakes, throwing the man off me.This is new.
“Eden. Wake up, butterfly. It’s just a nightmare, it’s not real.” Lucifer’s voice is a welcomed light, cutting through the darkness.
“Lucifer,” I whisper, my voice finally coming back to me.
The world goes dark, and I’m thrust down a long tunnel of bright light. Emerging suddenly, panting for air, and sweat cooling on my skin. Disorientation assails me, my vision blurring, and my head spinning.
Lucifer sits beside me, his hands gripping my shoulders. The look on his face is full of concern.
“I’m sorry,” I say shakily between ragged inhalations. “Thank you for waking me.”
He cups my neck and ducks his head to catch my eyes. “Don’t be sorry. I’d be worried if you really were perfectly okay already.”
Tears fill my eyes, a well of mixed emotions clogging my throat. “I’m really not. I want to be, more than anything. In the light, I can control it, but when the darkness comes, and I close my eyes, my mind can’t hold it back, and it all comes rushing forward.”
“Tell me what you need. What can I do to help you rest?” The vulnerability in Lucifer’s eyes, the sincere concern, and desire to help, cracks me wide open. A deep sigh flows out of me, carrying with it a mountain of tension. Leaving behind a bone deep fatigue.
