Verum (The Nocte Trilogy 2)

Page 97

“Are you here to bring me my son?” she asks politely. “The boy from the pictures? He did something bad, but he’s sorry.”

I can’t breathe.

I stare at her face, at her smile, and at the unlocked door.

She reaches out her hand to me,

And I reach to take it,

Then I open my eyes.

I didn’t even know they were closed.

I’m in the powder room again,

And Ashley Aimes is in front of me,

Annoyance on her pretty face,

And we never left this room.

We. Never. Left.

“What is wrong with you? My lord, you need help.”

She stalks away and I struggle to breathe, trying like hell to grasp reality.

What is happening to me?

I do need help.

I need Dare.

Because he was so hurt, and I’m hurting him now, more and more each day as I keep pushing him away.

He didn’t deserve that.

He doesn’t deserve this.

I’m reeling,

I’m reeling.

The room presses down on me, swirling and bending and stifling. I lunge for the door, and barge through the people and to Dare on the veranda.

Ashley is with him now, telling him of my break-down and he turns to me, his beautiful face frozen and afraid.

“Dare… I…”

Tears streak my cheeks and he grabs me, turning his back on Ashley.

“You’re not a monster,” I whisper. “You’re not.”

Without looking back, he leads me away,

Out of the ballroom,