Danica
DanicaI’m here. Don’t hurt me. I’m here. Big round eyes, a sweet face. Don’t hurt me. Don’t let them hurt me. Hand grabbing her, tearing her away from me. Blood.
I’m here. Don’t hurt me. I’m here. Don’t hurt me. Don’t let them hurt me. I gasp and sit up in bed, panting, sweat dripping from my forehead, a strangled cry dying in my throat. I put both hands onto my swelling belly, making sure everything is still okay.
Gorde is awake in an instant. “Danica!” He grabs me. “You’re burning up.”
He wipes my forehead. “You never sweat this much. Benn, get her fluids.”
Benn, too, is alert instantaneously—they’re warriors, always ready to react—and he comes over with a water container for me.
I gulp the cool liquid, then start to cry.
“It was a nightmare.” Gorde pulls me to his body, s
