already feeling the tug of sleep.
Mason’s fingers traced the side of my cheek tenderly. “Sweet dreams, baby.”
I mumbled something in return as I gave in to exhaustion.
“Darcy. Darcy….” I could feel myself being shaken, and cracking one of my eyelids open, I was confused for a moment as to why Daniel was here in my bedroom. Gratitude also filled me—he’d pulled me from a horrendous nightmare, one that had me on the verge of screaming.
Pushing myself up into a sitting position, I looked down and saw my clothes were drenched with sweat, and clinging to me. The sheets were pooled at my feet, twisted and in complete disarray. What disturbed me most, however, was the claw marks scratched down the center of the mattress, the stuffing scattered. I frowned as my mind tried to register what I was seeing—I’d done that.
“What’s happening, Daniel?” I asked, shoving my hair out of my eyes. I desperately needed a shower. The sweat on my body was starting to cool and sending a chill to my bones. I must’ve looked like a mess, but it was the least of my worries. I still hadn’t been able to take my gaze from the shredded bedding.
“We wanted to let you sleep, but you were screaming.”
I could feel him observing me, and peering up at him I noticed his stare was also fixed on the destruction of the bedding. “I came in and found you thrashing about—growling and groaning, and begging someone not to leave. It was hard to wake you up.” Daniel sat down beside me, the mattress giving under his weight, and he took hold of my hand. “What’s going on? Talk to me.”
My mind seemed to have a hard time focusing. “I had another nightmare.” I dropped his hand, and turned so I could face him. “This is the second one, but I don’t remember much of the details—just that I was terrified.”
He grabbed my chin, and tilting my head, peered into my eyes, checking from different angles. “Something’s going on. I know you think it’s something you ate, but my gut tells me it’s more. You should be feeling better by now.”
“Maybe I got hit with an extra dose of whatever it is?” I spoke softly, but even I was starting to worry. Sleep should’ve given my body time to heal and, if anything, I was feeling weaker. Anxiety began to stir inside me, and a large ball of dread settled in my stomach. “If it’s not food, or the flu, something’s wrong, isn’t it?” Agony lanced through me, signaling another attack. “It’s starting again!”
My vision doubled, and I balled myself up into the fetal position. My skin felt like it was on fire, my blood boiling, and I did the only thing I could—I screamed, and screamed, and screamed.
I barely registered Mason entering, or him lifting me into his arms. “Make it stop. Make it stop. Make it stop,” I chanted over and over again.
“Tell me where it hurts, Darcy. Stay with me … tell me so I can fix this.” Mason’s voice was strong, but it also held a hint of desperation.
“Everywhere,” I moaned, restless. I began to rock, not able to keep still. “I’m hot—so hot. Put me down, please … it hurts.” There were whispers exchanged, then the door opened and closed as Daniel left.
Placing me back on the bed, I heard the faucet in the shower turn on as Mason moved about the bathroom. I wondered what he was doing when shortly after I felt a cool weight cover me. Opening my eyes, I noticed he’d placed a wet towel on me, and the relief was enough to drive me crazy. With the intensity of heat subsiding, it made the pain bearable, and I was able to finally catch my breath. I paused as a thought began to surface, a lump forming instantly in my throat.
“Am I dying? Is that it?”
“Not if I can help it,” Mason growled. “Daniel and I have been talking about this, and neither of us can shake the bad feeling we have. It’s more than just human sickness, but we need to act quickly. My gut says I need to get you out of here, somewhere safe
Mason’s fingers traced the side of my cheek tenderly. “Sweet dreams, baby.”
I mumbled something in return as I gave in to exhaustion.
“Darcy. Darcy….” I could feel myself being shaken, and cracking one of my eyelids open, I was confused for a moment as to why Daniel was here in my bedroom. Gratitude also filled me—he’d pulled me from a horrendous nightmare, one that had me on the verge of screaming.
Pushing myself up into a sitting position, I looked down and saw my clothes were drenched with sweat, and clinging to me. The sheets were pooled at my feet, twisted and in complete disarray. What disturbed me most, however, was the claw marks scratched down the center of the mattress, the stuffing scattered. I frowned as my mind tried to register what I was seeing—I’d done that.
“What’s happening, Daniel?” I asked, shoving my hair out of my eyes. I desperately needed a shower. The sweat on my body was starting to cool and sending a chill to my bones. I must’ve looked like a mess, but it was the least of my worries. I still hadn’t been able to take my gaze from the shredded bedding.
“We wanted to let you sleep, but you were screaming.”
I could feel him observing me, and peering up at him I noticed his stare was also fixed on the destruction of the bedding. “I came in and found you thrashing about—growling and groaning, and begging someone not to leave. It was hard to wake you up.” Daniel sat down beside me, the mattress giving under his weight, and he took hold of my hand. “What’s going on? Talk to me.”
My mind seemed to have a hard time focusing. “I had another nightmare.” I dropped his hand, and turned so I could face him. “This is the second one, but I don’t remember much of the details—just that I was terrified.”
He grabbed my chin, and tilting my head, peered into my eyes, checking from different angles. “Something’s going on. I know you think it’s something you ate, but my gut tells me it’s more. You should be feeling better by now.”
“Maybe I got hit with an extra dose of whatever it is?” I spoke softly, but even I was starting to worry. Sleep should’ve given my body time to heal and, if anything, I was feeling weaker. Anxiety began to stir inside me, and a large ball of dread settled in my stomach. “If it’s not food, or the flu, something’s wrong, isn’t it?” Agony lanced through me, signaling another attack. “It’s starting again!”
My vision doubled, and I balled myself up into the fetal position. My skin felt like it was on fire, my blood boiling, and I did the only thing I could—I screamed, and screamed, and screamed.
I barely registered Mason entering, or him lifting me into his arms. “Make it stop. Make it stop. Make it stop,” I chanted over and over again.
“Tell me where it hurts, Darcy. Stay with me … tell me so I can fix this.” Mason’s voice was strong, but it also held a hint of desperation.
“Everywhere,” I moaned, restless. I began to rock, not able to keep still. “I’m hot—so hot. Put me down, please … it hurts.” There were whispers exchanged, then the door opened and closed as Daniel left.
Placing me back on the bed, I heard the faucet in the shower turn on as Mason moved about the bathroom. I wondered what he was doing when shortly after I felt a cool weight cover me. Opening my eyes, I noticed he’d placed a wet towel on me, and the relief was enough to drive me crazy. With the intensity of heat subsiding, it made the pain bearable, and I was able to finally catch my breath. I paused as a thought began to surface, a lump forming instantly in my throat.
“Am I dying? Is that it?”
“Not if I can help it,” Mason growled. “Daniel and I have been talking about this, and neither of us can shake the bad feeling we have. It’s more than just human sickness, but we need to act quickly. My gut says I need to get you out of here, somewhere safe
Similar Books
