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“What else?”
I looked away. “He wants to use me as a breeding mare.”
He sat back on his heels. “What thebloody helldoes that mean?”
“The demons are Okeus’s creations. But his ultimate goal is to create children who look like him. Like us. So he moved on to making babies the old-fashioned way. Only his babies were still monsters. He thinks my pure soul plus my Curse Keeper blood will make the babies he’s always dreamed of.”
“He wants to impregnate you?”
“So it would seem.”
David sat on the side of the tub and took my hand. “You were naked.”
“If you’re asking me if he was successful in his attempt, the answer is no. But if I hadn’t woken up when I did, I’m sure it would be a different story.”
“Ellie, I’m sorry.”
I put my finger on his lips. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You saved me. Thank you.”
His fingers wrapped around mine, and he placed a kiss against my fingertips.
“Are you done with my stomach?”
“I’ve cleaned it up. I’m not sure what else to do other than give you something for the pain.” He stood and found a bottle of ibuprofen in the medicine cabinet. He handed me two with a cup of water.
I swallowed the pills and then pulled the sheet up to cover my breasts. “Okay,” I said as I clutched the covering and stood. “I’m going to get dressed.”
He reached for my arm, but I shrugged him off. I needed to feel like I was in control of something, like I wasn’t completely helpless. “I’m better. I can walk now.”
He followed me into my room. Standing at the foot of my bed, he combed the room with his eyes, coming to a stop at the window. He stepped forward for a closer look.
“It looks like the salt is missing.”
“So that’s how they got in my dreams?”
“I don’t know.” He moved to my bed, slightly lifting the dream catcher that hung from the headboard. “I wish to God I did.”
“Well, one thing’s for certain. I’m not going back to sleep until the sun comes up.”
“I’ll stay up with you.” He bent over and picked up my pajama bottoms and camisole top off the floor, handing them to me. “If you want to get dressed, I’ll turn around.”
“Thanks.” It seemed stupid. He had seen me naked earlier, after all. My eyes drifted to the busted door frame.
“I had to break the door in.”
“Thanks.”
He nodded and turned around as I slipped on my clothes. My arm and my stomach throbbed, but I managed to do it without causing myself too much pain.
“I’m done.”
He spun around and watched as I moved toward him. The pain and guilt in his eyes was nearly my undoing.
I stopped in front of him. “David, don’t do that. Don’t feel sorry for me. I can’t take it.”
His eyes widened, incredulous. “Is that what you think this is? You think Ipityyou?” He lifted his hands and rested them on my upper arms. “You’re the strongest person I know. I don’t pity you. God, far from it.” His hand rose, his grip tightening as he cupped the side of my face. “Ellie,” his voice broke. “I can’t stand the thought that I wasn’t able to protect you from this…” His other hand rose to touch the other side of my face. “I’m supposed to be helping you, but I keep failing at every turn. You’re better off without me.”
My back stiffened. “Don’t youdaresay that, David Preston. You just saved me from…that monster. And you have found more information for me than I ever would have found on my own. But you’ve given me so much more than that.” I grabbed his cheeks and pulled his face closer. “I don’t care if you ever find another piece of information. I still want you here. I can’t do this alone. Ineedyou.”
