Beneath a Flaming Sky - Book Three (Moon Child Series)

Chapter Fourteen

Mia POV

My wrists ached as a pressure pushed me downwards. I felt as though my hands were pinned above me, but all I could see was darkness. A chilling draft rippled across my body sending shivers vibrating through me as sounds of rats and other critters scurried about around me. Footsteps echoed towards me as a chilling giggle made its way to my ears. It sounded familiar but different in a way.

The footsteps drew closer before they came to a stop before me. A cool hand caressed my cheek before it gripped my chin harshly.

“Look at me when I enter the room, little witch.” The voice hissed at me, and I felt frustration crawl through me. How could I look at her when I couldn’t see anything at all? Her nails dug into my skin harshly and I winced as I felt blood slowly trickle down my cheeks. “Tonight, we’re going to have a bit of fun.” She sang-song to me as I heard her skip away and then the clinking of metal. As she approached again, I felt the cool feeling of steel pressed against my cheek, but there was no pain as it was just the flat of the blade. The woman began to speak again, but it was muffled and faded into nothing as the sensations of chains around my wrists and the pressure pushing down on me disappeared and were replaced by cold iron around my ankle and heat rolling off of my body. Footsteps once again echoed towards me.

“Are you up for cooperating today, my queen?” that voice, it sounded so familiar, but for some reason I couldn’t place it. “Ignoring me still, how disappointing.” Metal ground against metal and the footsteps grew closer. Searing pain ripped through my side and spots of white flashed across the darkness. More searing pain and I couldn’t help but scream as it felt as though someone was literally peeling the skin from me. The pain was overwhelming.

“What about now? Are you willing to speak now?” After a few minutes of silence the man clicked disappointedly at me with his tongue and then there was more pain. My screams echoed throughout the night, forcing tears to stream down my face. This lasted for hours until my throat was hoarse from screaming, my body thrumming with pain and my eyes sore from the burning of tears.

“The pain can end if you just give me what I want.” A sigh of disappointment followed my silence and the clang of metal sounded nearby and was soon followed by the scraping of more metal. Silence followed for several minutes before pain unlike anything I’d felt before burned into my skin and the smell of burning flesh filled my nostrils. My throat nearly tore apart with my scream. Hands shook at my shoulders pulling me from my pain and from the darkness…

“Mia! Wake up!” sweat clung to my body as tears streamed from my eyes and I shot up, hands rubbing softly against my arms as I tried to catch my breath. My eyes connected with the familiar deep blue of my brothers, his face full of worry and pain. “Are you ok?” my heart was still hammering in my chest as I buried my head in my hands, tears starting a new. The pain I’d felt lingered still, but not as intensely. Luca’s hands rubbed comfortingly against my back as he let me cry it out.

When my tears had dried up, I lifted my head and looked into the questioning eyes of my brother. I let out a deep sigh as I tried to piece together what the hell I had just experienced.

“You could feel what I felt, couldn’t you?” I croaked out, my voice hoarse and sore from crying and screaming. Luca nodded sadly, his eyes still reflecting the pain we’d shared through our twin link.

“What happened? What were you dreaming about?” I scooted over on the bed and he sat beside me, pulling me closer to his side as I rested my head on his shoulder and settled in to tell him of my dream. When I was done Luca gave me a look of concern.

“That sounded intense Mia, it felt intense. Why did you dream that?” I shook my head as I ran my hands through my hair in frustration.

“I have no idea!” I growled frustratedly. “None of it made sense. None!” I grasped at my hair, tugging it in annoyance before I crawled from my bed and to the bathroom where I splashed cold water on my face. Luca leant against the doorframe as I did so, concern still evident on his face. I could feel his worry for me through our link.

“I’m sure it was just a dream, a very vivid dream.” I shrugged my shoulder in agreement as I turned to him from the sink.

“Probably. It has happened before. It’s just weird because ever since I woke up from the curse, I haven’t dreamt at all. So having such a vivid dream all of a sudden is jolting.”

“Maybe your mind was just healing from the trauma of being stuck in the curse.” Luca gave a shrug of his shoulders and smiled softly at me. “Don’t think too much on it. Sometimes a dream is just a dream.” Returning his soft smile I followed him from the bathroom as he checked his watch. “Well, it almost 5:30 anyways so get dressed, and I’ll meet you down at the training grounds.” I nodded in agreement and made my way to my wardrobe where I got changed in a pair of black leggings, and a grey loose tank top. Sneakers on, I made my way down the stairs to the front of the house in time to see Amelia heading towards the training grounds, her hands caressing her small swollen belly. Her smile was genuine and full of concern as I approached and gave her a tight hug.

“How are you feeling? Luca took off so suddenly this morning, he felt as though you were being tortured.” She spoke as we walked, and I felt the sensations of the dreams come rushing back. Pushing them back down I shook my head and smiled at her.

“I’m fine. It was just a very real feeling dream, but I’m sure it was nothing.” Satisfied with my answer, we walked in silence until we reached the training grounds where I helped her settle into a chair to watch, and then joined my brother who was discussing pack work with Seth. As I approached, Seth smiled knowingly at me.

“So I heard that Carter caught you up on pack matters yesterday.” I felt a blush tinge my cheeks as I knew his words held a double meaning. Luca looked between us both with a look of confusion and I shook my head.

“Yes, I know I’m supposed to be resting, but I grew tired of sitting around doing nothing when there is work to be done.” Seth just shook his head with an amused look on his face.

“I’m surprised you lasted this long. I expected you to crack after the first day.” I glared at him and was about to insult him when Carter called everyone’s attention to him as he began the training session. I kept my gaze on his shoulder as he spoke, a slight blush on my cheeks every time our eyes connected. Training seemed to fly by as I found myself focusing on my workout and sparring so I wouldn’t focus on other things. By the end of it my muscles ached, and my lungs burned, but at least I hadn’t thought once about my kisses with Carter and Xander. I ran back to my bedroom where I had a quick shower and dressed in a black maxi skirt and green tank top before I made my way to my office, the familiar smell of paper and ink making me smile.

I sat behind the desk as my laptop blinked to life, and I just allowed myself to bask in the familiarity of it all before I set into work. It felt good to get once again lost in work, and not have to focus on the never-ending drama that was my love life. Emails answered, invoices forwarded to Seth and complaints dealt with I sat back as Luca entered, a tray of food in his hands.

“if I didn’t love you before, I do now.” I said happily as he placed the ham and cheese sandwich and glass of orange juice before me. Luca chuckled as he sat in the chair in front of my desk. Luca’s eyes assessed me as I ate my sandwich, and after a too long silence I couldn’t handle it anymore.

“What’s up, Luc?” his lips pulled into a smirk as he shrugged his shoulders.

“Nothing. Just found out something interesting from Seth regarding a certain kiss.” My cheeks flushed with heat as a pink tinge covered their surface. “So you and Carter, huh? What about your mate?” My heart clenched at the mention of Xander, and I couldn’t hold Luca’s gaze anymore. I stood from my chair and turned towards the window, the mid-day sun warming my face.

“My mate doesn’t want me. And even though he won’t leave me alone which makes me feel to the contrary, I can’t spend my life pining for him.”

“What do you mean he won’t leave you alone?!” Luca’s tone had me spinning around, eyes wide. “I thought he was gone?” s**t. I thought.

“Um, no. I never said that, you just assumed.” I kept my gaze from his as he came to stand before me, his eyes trying to pull the truth from me.

“It’s the dragon, isn’t it?” his voice was low, full of anger as he came to the realisation. He was dim sometimes, but not always. “I’m going to kill him.” My hands shot out to his as I held him in place, stopping him from storming off and doing something stupid. I had absolute faith in my brothers fighting ability, but I had sparred with Xander and he was a very capable fighter. And he would kick Luca’s ass.

“Please don’t, Luca. Please.” I closed my eyes at the last word to hold in my tears as my hands squeezed his. “Its not that he doesn’t want to leave, he can’t leave without his sister.”

“Then reject you and put you out of your misery already!” I shook my head as my tear-filled eyes connected with his.

“He can’t. Dragons can’t reject their mates. Once they find them, its forever.” My eyes closed at my words as tears slipped from their prison. I was really sick of crying. Luca pulled me into a tight hug, his chin resting atop my head as I sobbed. I’ll say it again, I’m sick of crying. When I was once again all cried out, my brother pulled back from the hug.

“Are you going to be ok?” he asked, his hands stroking up and down my arms. I nodded and wiped at my cheeks as I sighed.

“Who knows?” I said with a shrug and an unamused chuckle. “but even if I’m not, at least I have an amazing brother to cheer me up.” With one last hug he headed towards the office door.

“Get back to work, lazy bum.” He said as he reached the door with a wink. I flipped him off as I returned to my desk to return to my work.