I’d spent the first three years after the incident in a state of rage and hate. I was angry with my parents for taking me away from her, convinced that had I been there I could’ve prevented what happened.
She was mine to protect and they hadn’t let me. It had taken me a long time to forgive them for that. But that was before I knew all, or most of the legend that held Jasmine’s life and mine enthralled.
Everything made sense then, the reason I had felt her since her days in the womb, why I felt only half alive when she was gone.
As soon as I’d found her trail I’d done everything I could to find out about her life in the intervening years. From the time she was taken ‘til the day I found her in her and followed her in her dreams.
Always over the years as time went by I worried about her, about the kind of life she had, it kept me up at night the constant worry.
Did she remember the small boy who had been her constant companion in the first years of her life?
When she was about twelve or thirteen I’d found her in her dreams. It was the first connection we’d had in all those years, but it had been enough.
It wasn’t time yet, but at least I knew she was alive and if not happy, she was well.
Her happiness has always been my responsibility, so I didn’t worry too much about that, knowing that the time would come when I would see to her every need.
Now that I had brought her home and we had found each other again, I had thought to at least have a few weeks to enjoy her company, before the darkness came. Time we needed for her to learn of who she was, who we are.
Instead I’ve had to leave her unattended for many days, while I went off to protect her space, to ensure that no one got too close to her.
She distrusted me for this, not knowing the reason behind my disappearances as she calls them, and I wasn’t going to share them with her, not now, not yet.
She’d spent most of her life running and though I knew that our future was going to be bright, she would be much changed after I take her the first time.
I wanted her to enjoy these last few weeks as a teenager, the way she’d dreamt of in her dreams that I’d infiltrated.
I wanted to give her that much at least, before turning her life around again.
I pulled her in close and inhaled the changing scent of her body. It seemed to be changing more rapidly than expected, and had I not known better, I would’ve thought I had the dates mixed up.
But that cannot be, I’d been there on the day she was born after all. I knew down to the minute she came into this world.
“Sleep well my little love, all will be well when you awake.” I said a silent prayer that that would hold true, before I too prepared to fall into a slight slumber beside her, as the winds howled outside the window, and I heard the soft rumblings beneath.
One growled command saw an end to them, and we were left in peace, my body wrapped protectively around hers.
One peek at her dreams showed them to be peaceful and I felt free to drift off until the morning light.
Chapter 16
JASMINE
I could still feel him when I awakened the next morning; his scent was all over me, even stronger than before.
I lifted my arm to my nose and inhaled the sweet smell, not questioning how it could be so strong, that it permeated my very pores.
It also had a strange affect on me, as I felt my body tingle, even though he wasn’t here holding me, touching me. I rolled out of bed and headed for the shower before heading down to make breakfast.
Dad was still asleep after coming home just a few short hours ago, so it was just me. I rushed through my oatmeal and juice wanting to be ready when Thorn showed up.
I was at the door and waiting when he pulled up, kind of like a little puppy, I was shaking with anticipation.
All that was missing was the wagging tail and the hanging tongue, though I think I had been doing the latter for the past week or so.
“Good morning little love and how are you feeling this morning? I trust you had a good night.” He smiled at me slyly since he knew very well that I’d slept like a baby in his arms.
“It was okay, could’ve been better.” He tapped me playfully on the butt before seating me and strapping me in. I did get a quick kiss to my forehead and one of his looks that make my heart flutter.