AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A feeling of dread sank to the pit of my stomach all over again. “You said it would hurt the baby, though.”
“I said that it could. If my search for information proves otherwise, I will claim you before the birth.” He planted a chaste kiss to my forehead. “But again, to be discussed when I return.”
With a reluctant nod, I feigned a smile. “Go. And I love you.”
“And I, you.” One more kiss, and he strode out of the room.
As tormenting as the thought of public claiming might’ve been, something else clawed for my attention right then as the realization of everything finally sank its teeth into me.
My father, a man I hadn’t seen since I was a teenager, was here in Nightshade.
And Jericho was bringing him home to me.
27
FARRYN
Of course I couldn’t sleep.
Huffing, I turned to my side as I lay in bed, staring out the window. Every time I closed my eyes, my mind wandered to Jericho galloping through the dark woods on his black horse, his cape flying behind him, as wolves and demons chased after him. Like something out of a dark fairytale, except I didn’t want to be the damsel in distress, locked in the tower, waiting for his return. I wanted to be on my own horse alongside him, fighting them off like some badass fae queen defending her kingdom.
The sad and pathetic reality was, I’d have probably fallen off my horse hours before and gotten mauled by a pack of wolves, leaving him to fight off demons while he buried my half-eaten carcass.
Yeah. Probably better that he didn’t drag me along.
As I lay counting stars in the sky, a shadow outside of my window caught my attention. Muscles stiff, I watched for it again, slowly lifting my head from the pillow.
Bigger than a bird, it left me contemplating impossible theories, like maybe Jericho had miraculously grown his wings and had already returned. Or maybe Remy had risen from the dead. Certainly nothing more plausible, like perhaps an intruder outside my window.
The shadow hovered toward the edge of the frame, as if peering in on me, but the soft glow behind him only created the silhouette of a man whose features I couldn’t make out.
In a subtle move, I buried my face beneath the sheets and left one small gap to see out through. I slid my hand under the pillow for the dagger that Jericho insisted I keep there, even though I originally had no intentions of following his orders. Cold metal hit the tip of my finger, while I scoured my brain for the three words he told me to remember.
Stare. Strike. Stab.
No.
Slap. Stab. Stick.
No.
Stun. Sob. Sting.
What the hell did he say!
The window slid open, and I slapped a hand over my mouth to contain the scream begging for escape.
The dogs barked below, and the figure paused, as if assessing the situation, before he set back into motion, sticking one leg through the window opening. Swallowing hard, I breathed through my nose, mentally willing my muscles to stop their trembling.
Scream.
Scream, you idiot!
I opened my mouth to do just that, but could summon nothing more than a whispered sound. As if my voice had been cut. Frowning, I pushed again, but only a scratchy noise came out, one the intruder would’ve undoubtedly taken as a snore.
The figure still cloaked in shadows tiptoed across my room toward me.
Stun. Sever. Strip.
