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Neah
"Stop it!" I snap, staring at my belly. The twins were growing fast and had also taken to kicking each other or my bladder and it was driving me nuts.
Dane raises an eyebrow at me with a small smile as Mallory comes running towards us. I sigh, I had forgotten she was taking part in training.
She comes to a stop in front of us. Her eyes narrowed at my belly. "Is it wise for you to be training?"
"I'm not. This is the only way I can get out of the house!" I snap at her and she lowers her gaze.
Years I had spent trapped inside a house because of Cassandra and Trey.
Going no further than the back garden to having almost complete freedom.
And now, now I would do anything to feel the grass on my bare feet, to lie in the sun without being monitored every second of the day.
But until Damien sends news, I wasn't allowed out of Dane's sight.
The fake grass of the training ground will have to do.
I knew it was to protect me and the twins. I knew he was doing it to keep us safe, but all I wanted to do was break away, to not feel so.... trapped.
Dane knew, and he would talk to me in a reassuring tone, reminding me it was only temporary and for the best. Promising me that I could still do most things, as long as he could see me. But to me, doing the best thing meant losing a part of my sanity. If I even had any at this point.
But it wasn't just about keeping me safe. It was to keep an eye on me, to make sure I don't become the monster I feared.
"Where do you want me?" Mallory beams at Dane. I really wanted to wipe that smile off of her face. It felt fake and forced. And I bet behind closed doors she has an excellent resting bitch face. Though I was yet to see it, deep down, I could feel it was there.
Dane sends her over to a group of well trained guards.
He had already told me he wanted to test her abilities.
I questioned why, because I was living proof of her abilities.
I had felt what she could do if she put her mind to it.
And that was just after she had been turned.
What was she like with years of training under her belt?
"It's better to know what everyone is capable of. There may be a time when we need to use it or prepare for it." Dane winks at me
I look up at him, but he keeps his crimson eyes focussed on the groups as they start to spar. Did he secretly not trust Mallory either?
Nyx mumbles and starts to talk. I tell her to shut up. It was easier not to have her weighing in with her own opinion and this way, I could focus on keeping the monster at bay.
I lower myself onto the grass, watching everyone fight.
Training had been a no go for me since finding out I was pregnant.
Though training had never been a concern when I was face to face with someone and fighting for my life.
I had just shifted and destroyed them in seconds.
Taking their heart, just like Salem did to Jess.
Was that a Rogue thing? Going for the heart? Surely that was just the obvious choice? But then again they play with their food. The heart wouldn't be the first thing they went for.
It was just me in the moment. I never thought about my aim. My hand or rather my claws just went straight for it. Except for Roan, I tortured him.
I feel a smile creeping up my face and have to force it away when Dane clears his throat. He is staring at me with his crimson eyes. "You've been listening?" I whisper
"It's pretty hard not too." His tone is low and he squats down in front of me. "Mallory told you that you have to stop the dark thoughts seeping in."
It was like I was being scolded. I couldn't help the way my brain automatically tried figuring things out. It wasn't my fault that I naturally looked for answers. "You liked it when I found my confidence to kill." I mumble. We had sex in the forest that day.
"I know, but if I lose you over it...." He shakes his head. "I just can't lose you or the twins, okay."
I nod and try to clear my head as he stretches back up to full height, turning his attention to the training.
Lying myself back on the fake grass, I stare up at the blue sky. Dane was making the most of training this morning as a storm was supposed to be coming in tonight.
I hated storms, the sharp cracks of lightning always reminded me of being hit, particularly whipped. I probably won't sleep later.
Mallory comes bounding up to us after training. Her skin shiny from the sweat. She wipes her forehead, flinging the beads of sweat onto the grass, "So, how did I do?"
"As well as what I expected."
She smiles at him. "So I got the job, right?"
Dane cocks an eyebrow at her in confusion.
"To protect Neah, right?"
"I don't need your protection!" I snap and Danes hand wraps around my wrist as he gives me a warning glare to calm down.
"What Neah means to say is that she doesn't need protection right now. She has me." He smiles at her
"I thought this was why you wanted me to train?" She scoffs, "To test my skills so you knew I could watch her."
"I think you misunderstood me, Mallory. I said to test you while I watch Neah." Dane tells her.
"I am grateful that you want to offer your services, but right now, Neah isn't leaving my side." There is annoyance in her brown eyes, but I'm not sure if Dane saw it. If he did, he kept his face unreadable.
"Oh" she sighs. "I just wanted to help, you let Damien help."
"Damien didn't give me much of a choice." Dane murmurs without looking at her. His eyes are too busy scanning the people still training.
"What does that mean?" Mallory asks
"It doesn't matter."
But I was curious too, what did he mean? As far as I was aware, Damien had just started planting himself in locations near me. I will have to ask him later when we are alone. Mallory turns her head to me. "I was just trying to help."
I don't respond. Because the words ready to come out of my mouth will have Dane worrying. Instead I force the words back down my throat and ask if he has any more snacks. "Not on me. We are done anyway, let's go."
We turn away from Mallory and Dane drapes an arm around my shoulder. "What are you up to?" I murmur as we leave the grounds.
"Just working through something. Until I know more, all you need to do is focus on growing my sons."
"No secrets." I mutter as I'm kicked in the bladder.
"It's not a secret, it's a theory."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
He stops me and spins me around to look at him, encasing my hands with his. "I am working on a few ideas, for now it is best that only I know. If the time comes that you need to know, I will tell you." "Does anyone else know?"
He shakes his head at me. There's a strange glint to his crimson eyes. The same look he had given me back at Moonshine that first day. A knowing look. A plan hovered beneath the surface.
I might have been scared once, even tried to hide away, but whatever he was up to, he was doing it for us and I had to trust that.