Reclaiming Her Heart

Chapter 58 - Nightmares

Adam

I watched her sleep. Concerned.

Her conclusions earlier making me uneasy.

When she woke up, I would have her speak with Agamemnon. He would be able to relay her intuitive thoughts to Constance.

While I really didn't want to take her back to the stronghold, it wasn't fair to leave her tattoo unfinished. She'd been so excited about it. I refused to take that from her, even if I was uncomfortable. It was the first thing she'd been looking forward to since she'd returned.

Tomorrow, we would only be in Agamemnon's tattoo shop. We wouldn't go anywhere else. Wouldn't see anyone else.

She was safe. My hold tightening around her.

She was here.

Everything would be okay.

Sleep did not come for me. Too wound up.

While Agamemnon's pack was here to protect us, it didn't feel like it was enough. Not after those deep and dark thoughts of hers.

Fear-filled imaginings played out within my mind's eye. Scenarios where Keb, or some other enemy, slipped Agamemnon's notice and broke into the cabin. I was afraid if I slept, I wouldn't be able to protect her.

The shadows of the room played tricks. Making my heart constrict every time I imagined cold eyes hovering in their depths. Or thought a shadow shifted in the night.

When dawn finally came, I was feeling haggard. Exhausted.

Jadea woke to find me fiercely holding her, eyes glued to the door.

"Adam?" Fingers traced my jawline, her mind tentatively touching mine to see why I was so unsettled. "I'm sorry. I didn't--"

"Don't apologize," I snapped a little too harshly. "You did nothing wrong." I forced gentleness into my tone. This wasn't her fault.

"You should have woken me. We could have figured something out. Agamemnon could have teleported us to Ty's."

Now, why hadn't I thought of that? We could have moved somewhere more secure. I'd worried myself needlessly.

"Everything will be okay," she soothed, pulling me into her embrace where I took my first deep breath since the end of our scene last night. "Sleep." She commanded, her spell weaving through my mind.

I fought against it.

"You need sleep, Adam." Her tone stern. Unbending. "I need you healthy. Well rested." She needed me taken care of, especially while her own life was in such turmoil. "I will let Agamemnon know we will be leaving later for the stronghold. I will also tell him about the conclusions I drew yesterday."

Nodding, I moved with her when she shifted her hold, pulling me on top of her. Settling my head on her chest. Arms wrapping comfortably around her waist. Thighs cradling my hips. Fingers running through my hair. I was out within seconds.

I floated through dreamless skies and endless universes.

Until Keb's malicious yellow-green gaze flashed before me...

"I am coming for you, my little bird," he cooed, his gaze staring sightlessly at a blank stone wall with two empty shackles. "You will be mine! My prize."

In his mind's eyes, I saw every deprived fantasy with her. Every way he could think of to break her will and spirit. He wanted her so crushed, she would beg for death. He wanted her on the edge of sanity, where he would push her over, making her one of the nightmares her pack used to hunt.

"That spineless alpha let you go," he spat. "But, with me, you will never escape. I am so close ... Can you feel me?"

He had an unhealthy obsession with her. Worse than Valdis. Which was saying something.

It was terrifying.

"When I find you..." he smirked, a dove caught in his clutches coming into view. A knife slowly descending toward the struggling animal. "I will slowly carve your mate's heart out." The tip of the blade effortlessly flayed the flesh as he marked the dove with satanic symbols. The dove desperately fighting to get free. Its shrieks ringing in my ears. "And then, I will feed it to his children before they are tossed into the arena. You will be devastated. You will know there is nowhere you can hide, no one you can run to where I will not find you. Where I will not reach you. You are mine, Jadea Knight. Until I decide differently. You do not get to make a mockery of me, you do not get to destroy my empire, without consequence!" With a flick of his wrist, he broke the dove's neck.

I started awake. Sweating. Heart racing. Body shaking.

"Adam, it's okay," Jadea soothed, her mind embedded within mine. She'd seen the vision.

Shit!

I searched her gaze, needing to know she was going to be okay. That she wasn't on the verge of a mental breakdown.

Keb was her kryptonite.

"I will be okay." She declared. Despite her voice breaking, I felt her resolve. Strong. Unbending.

I knew she was good at fronting a strong facade.

The longer she held my scrutinizing gaze, the more she squirmed.

"Don't you dare lie to me." I growled, pushing myself up so I could look down at her.

Her teeth sank into her bottom lip. Hard. It was the first break in that pristine facade. "I will be okay," she repeated, with less conviction, those eyes of hers glistening. She desperately wanted to believe those words. She hoped if she repeated them enough, they would be true.

Reaching up, I tugged her lip free from her worrying teeth before attacking her lips. Sucking her bottom lip into my mouth, I soothed the pain she'd inflicted on herself. Her gasp fueling the fire. "Yes, you will be," I growled against her mouth. She would be okay. Even if it was at the cost of my own soul. I could not lose her again.

"How could he know where I am?" her whisper breaking my heart. "Constance, Agamemnon and his pack are the only ones who knew where I went." And possibly some of Constance's Imperium Guard. Which, to be honest, they wouldn't let slip where she was being hidden.

So, how could he know?

Was he as brilliant a tracker as Allen?

"Did you already speak with Agamemnon?"

She nodded.

"We need to speak with Constance." I added, knowing this could very well indicate there was a mole in her ranks. Jadea knew it too. "Let's get ready to go, baby," I suggested softly. She wasn't spiraling. Rather, she was looking forward to sitting in the hot seat today, knowing the pain from the tattoo would help with her inner turmoil. "We will eat. You will complete all of your tasks. Then, we will go."

The sooner she finished them. The sooner she could get what she really wanted.

***

Halfway through the session, Constance sailed into Agamemnon's room. Closing the door behind her, she waved her hand. I heard the vibrations of a very powerful spell cover the room, so anyone trying to eavesdrop couldn't. "You have something urgent to discuss with me?" she asked, diving straight into it.

Agamemnon paused so we could speak. Jadea sat up, her gaze holding Constance's intense gaze. "Adam had a vision early this morning." She related the vision and then watched Constance closely mull over this information.

"Hmm," she hummed, concern marring her brow. Crossing her arms, she paced the room. "Besides us, Gabriel was the only other individual who knew about your whereabouts. Did you say anything at the feast yesterday?"

I shook my head. "Charlotte asked if I was staying at Ty's, but I didn't give her an answer."

Constance's frown deepened. "I will send--"

"I will bring our pack back with me tomorrow," I interrupted. I'd already told Garret to get them ready. Ginny and Persephone would remain with Ty to watch over Aidan and Anika. While our two newest members had started training, they weren't quite ready to join in when it mattered most. And, if they were present, Garret and Blade would be distracted, worrying about their mates.

I didn't want to offend Constance, but I trusted our pack more.

"Very well," Constance quipped. "Aggie, you will keep me informed of all activity, even if it seems insignificant."

He nodded once, knowing even the smallest details mattered.

"We know he is coming," Constance continued, her gaze falling back to Jadea—who deflated. My heart hurt for her, knowing she was having a very hard time handling this. "He will not take you a second time," she declared, resting a soothing hand on Jadea's shoulder. Only when Jadea looked up into her eyes, did she continue. "You are so very strong, dear one." She caressed her cheek with the backs of her fingers.

"Thank you," Jadea whispered automatically.

"In the meantime, I will work with my guard to figure out where this mole is," Constance continued seriously. "While you ... Keep on living. Don't allow him to kill any more of your fun and joy. Don't allow him to poison your mind so hard, you cannot come back. Such wretched trepidation is what destroys a soul. Heck! Even entire civilizations."

Silent tears leaked from the corners of Jadea's eyes as Constance's words hit home. "I won't let him do that to me," she proclaimed, even though, through the cracks of fear within her very spirit, oozed dread and a sense of impending doom.