Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Dara
We stay like this, wrapped in each other’s arms on the treehouse floor for hours. Until my eyes start drooping. Harlan lifts me up, pulling me into his chest.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, leaning farther into his embrace.
“Don’t be sorry, Princess. It’ll all be okay. We won’t let James get anywhere near you. We will do everything in our power to protect you and the final stone.” He kisses my forehead.
Sometimes you need to break down and let it all out. Oliver’s words stung. James is evil and doesn’t want me to retrieve the three stones to rule Silvia. But he’ll use me to get the final stone. There’s no way in hell that I’ll let James get anywhere near me and if he does, I will finish him. No one threatens my life and gets away with it. I have my family here—my warriors and my best friends. I’ll rule Silvia just like my parents once did, but I’ll rule with my warriors right beside me as kings.
Looking up, I smile at Harlan, my sexy, strong man.“Take me to bed,” I say, yawning.
“Don’t have to ask me twice.” He winks, lifting me up.
He cradles me in his arms, and I hold onto his neck. Breathing in his earthy scent, I instantly relax. Smells like home.
Harlan lays me down on my bed. He goes to move away, and I grab his arm, pulling him down next to me. He drapes an arm over my stomach, and my whole body deflates. The door creaks open but I close my eyes, my energy long gone.
“She okay?” Blair asks.
“It’s Dara. She always pulls through, bro.”
Smiling, I fall straight to sleep.
I’m flying over Silvia. It’s all gone—like someone has set off an atomic bomb and wiped everything away. All that meets the eye is dried dirt. It’s like being in a desert. Our little village is blown apart, and our homes are destroyed.
I look down to find James in front of the destruction; he throws back his head, letting out a deep, evil laugh that causes goosebumps to spread all over me. He looks up into the sky, straight at me.
“It’s over, Dara. They are all gone—every single one of them,” he yells, grinning from ear to ear. My heart squeezes.
“Nooooooo!” I scream.
I start falling from the sky. I let the blackness consume me. Everyone I love is gone. I have nothing left to live for.
Cool air hits my back. I scream as loud as I can. My breath catches in my throat and I gasp for air. Someone shakes my shoulders; my eyes peel open to find a panicked Harlan checking me over.
“Are you hurt?” he asks, his eyes scanning my hands, legs, and stomach.
My body is drenched in sweat. I sit up, holding my breath. My heart’s beating a million miles a minute.
“Breathe, Dara, breathe. Everything is okay. You’re safe. It was just a dream.” His soothing voice washes over me.
I let out the breath that I’m holding onto. Gazing around the room, I find everyone in here. Blair, Oliver, Declan, Jolie, Kayla, and Alaric. Everyone’s okay. It was just a dream. My heart starts slowing down to a normal rate. Everyone is staring at me as if they’re waiting for an explanation.
“Sorry. Bad dream,” I confess, moving into Harlan’s embrace and turning away from their prying eyes. Harlan pulls me closer to him.
James has a way of getting into my dreams each night—or should I say nightmares. I used to tell the guys about them but lately, the dreams have happened so often that I haven’t bothered. I don’t think they need to know about them all. It will only worry them more and we have enough to worry about.
My dreams used to turn into reality, but lately, the dreams don’t feel the same as the ones that were visions. This just feels like James is messing with my thoughts, trying to trick me.
I find Jolie staring at me with that look in her eyes like she knows exactly what I’ve been thinking. Stupid bloody mind-reading skills. Still, she doesn’t say anything, which I’m grateful for. I’m now comfortable with being able to block the others out from my thoughts, but Jolie could break through any barrier I put up in a second with her magic. She always knows what’s going on inside my head.
After Harlan drags me downstairs to have breakfast, we eat in silence. Seems like we’re all stuck in our own thoughts.
Anna hasn’t been around for a few days, which is odd. She normally comes to visit at least once a day. Something doesn’t feel right.
“Have you seen your mum lately?” I ask Oliver.
He’s shirtless with bright yellow gloves on, quietly washing the dishes. He looks over his shoulder at me sitting with Blair and Declan at the table.
“Nah, we haven’t actually. Should go see her later today. Dad said she hasn’t been feeling too well, so she’s resting.” He shrugs, placing a cup on the drying rack.
At least now I know why we haven’t seen her around here; I hope she’s okay.
Blair gets up and collects my empty plate, then passes it to Oliver. He comes back and leans against my chair.“Can we have some time together, Princess?” His sweet voice whispers against my cheek.
Butterflies appear in my belly and I nod, letting him grasp my hand. He leads me up the stairs then farther up to our lookout—my favourite place to sit and chill. Blair enjoys it just as much as I do. The house, at times, gets a bit crowded now that we have extra guests. Having this oasis up here gives us that little bit of space to clear our heads.
We know when he isn’t dealing; we give him the time to get himself back together. Sometimes he asks me to be with him in those moments; other times, he prefers to be alone, which I respect.
Since his time with James, I’ve found him out here all the time, especially at night. He loves the peace and quiet it offers. Blair steps into the hammock and brings me down with him. We lie cuddled next to each other in silence, enjoying each other’s company. My eyes close as I lean my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
“You’re having nightmares about James, aren’t you?” he asks, and I freeze, unable to speak aloud.
“It’s okay. I have them too. He visits me every time I fall asleep. He’s there, haunting me, messing with my mind. He shows me visions of you. Of him killing you.” His voice lowers, and I feel his heartbeat picking up against my ear. He grabs my hand and interlaces our fingers together.
“The worst part is there’s nothing I can ever do to save you. It drives me completely crazy, Dara. That’s why I try so hard not to go to sleep anymore. I have to come up here to attempt to stay awake.”
“Everything will be okay, Blair. I won’t let him touch me and neither will you guys.” I try to reassure him, but honestly, who am I to promise him that? I’m not a future predictor. I could very well die at his hands, but I know one thing. I’ll never go down without a fight. Not without first saving my home. That’s my number-one priority—that and making sure my warriors get out of this alive. If I die saving Silvia, I’ll die happy because I’ll know that Silvia is safe, along with everyone else.
“You’re all I have, Dara, apart from my family. All I’ve ever wanted. I want to live a free life without having to watch my back at each moment. Not have to train and save the world. That’s what keeps me together—having that as my end goal.”
We stay in silence for the next hour just enjoying each other’s company. When the clock downstairs strikes eight, Blair reaches over, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. He leans closer. His breath tickles my cheek.“God, I love you so much.”
My heart melts, and my nipples harden at his confession. I’ll never get sick of hearing those words out of my warrior’s mouth. He looks down at my tight black T-shirt, smiling. It’s then I remember that I forgot to put on a bra today. Go figure.