Chapter 21
The storm crashes into the castle, thunder booming and shaking the ground.
I look at Kryx from where I sit on his lap, his arms holding me close.
If anything goes wrong, if I doubt myself even a little, I could die or get lost in a dreamscape forever.
This is much more than letting him claim me or giving him my soul; it's about giving him my entire life—every part of me.
My chest aches, and I tremble as he holds me in his arms, allowing waves of fear and dread to wash over me.
I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to find a calm part of my mind—one I can escape to and ensure there is not a hint of doubt slipping in.
“Relax, little vixen,” Kryx says into my mind, with each muscle relaxing as if his words touch every one.
He rises from his seat, scoops me up into his arms, and carries me to the bear skin rug in front of the fireplace. He gently lays me down on my back, the fire warming my skin. He then lowers himself next to me, curling his body against mine and brushing my hair away from my face.
He clenches his fist then opens his hand palm-up, revealing a small pile of shimmering sand. “Nicolette,” he says softly, and my gaze shifts from his hand to his crimson eyes. “Come back to me in this world.”
I nod. “I will. I promise.”
He takes a deep breath, blowing it into his palm and scattering the sand across my face, where it settles over me. My eyelids grow heavy, and I immediately drift into my dreamscape.
The moonlight illuminates the clearing as brightly as a spotlight.
In the center stands a four-poster bed, the spindles curling like intertwined trees.
Beside it, Kryx stands with his hand outstretched, beckoning to me.
A warm breeze brushes past me, lifting the skirt of my dress.
The white linen glows brightly, reflecting the moon's ghostly light.
I open my mouth to call his name, but my words are lost in the wind, carried away.
I stumble, and his strong arms catch me.
I look up at him, seeing him exactly as he is.
His pitch-black eyes shine with fiery irises, and his long, inky black hair flows past his shoulders.
His onyx horns curl gracefully back on his head.
I trace my fingers over the tattoos that cover his chest before running my hand down his gray skin, feeling each muscle flex under my touch.
He’s terrifying—a monster who literally haunts the dreams of his victims.
A nightmare.
My nightmare.
But my heart flutters at the sight of him. He’s walked through centuries, searching for his other half while spending over a decade crossing into my dreams, waiting for me to finally come to my senses.
And I’m the one willing to risk it all.
He gently cups my face, fiercely pressing our lips together. The piercings on his lips bite into me as his tongue slides in, mingling with mine. He wraps his arms around me, pulling me back onto the bed, deepening the kiss.
His shadows curl around us, warding off any Nightmares that might try to take hold as his hands glide over me.
His claws shred the fabric of my gown to nothing but ribbons, the pieces fluttering away in the gentle breeze.
I moan into his mouth as he cups my pussy, the sensation of him on my bare skin almost too much.
I arch my back, pressing my breasts into his chest, my budding nipples aching from the friction between us.
“Kryx,” I plead into his mouth as I reach between us and grip his hard length, his shadows slithering up, undoing his pants and pulling them from his body.
His hard cock slides through my center, coating him in my dripping desire.
I moan, the sound muffled as he swallows it down, digging my nails into his skin as his hand laces through my hair, roughly tugging at the roots.
I pant as he continues to thrust his cock between my folds, friction building over my aching clit, taking me higher.
“Come for me,” he croons in my mind, tugging my hair harder as he sinks his teeth into the space between my neck and shoulder, reopening the scars that already dot my skin.
I scream as the smell of my blood fills the air, the warm liquid staining my porcelain skin crimson.
The pain sends me plummeting over the edge, and I come all over his cock before he even fills me.
“Such a good girl,” he says aloud, lapping up my blood and healing the bite. “And as sweet as my favorite wine.”
He rolls us over, laying me on my back as he positions himself over me. His shadows slide under my hips, pushing them up for him, letting my legs fall open. “So beautiful,” he growls. “Eternally mine.”
He pushes into my pussy, taking me inch by inch, his piercings adding a hint of pain to the pleasure. “Kryx, oh... ” He slides back out and slams into me, all the way to the hilt, forcing the breath from my lungs and bringing tears to my eyes.
His irises blaze with fire as he slides off the bed, still seated inside me as he drags me with him, stopping at the edge of the mattress.
He grabs my ass, lifts me higher as he thrusts into me, going so deep that I start to feel lightheaded.
My walls tighten around him as he finds his release, filling me with his cum, the warm liquid flowing down and pooling beneath me.
He remains seated inside me and gazes down, emotion swirling in his eyes. He leans forward, capturing my mouth in his as he runs his hand over my chest, placing his palm on my thundering heart. He pulls back, his eyes burning into mine with a look of resolve.
“This will hurt, little vixen,” he says, his voice rough, his eyes becoming silver lined. “Please, forgive me.”
“What will—”
My question cuts off as his clawed hand sinks into my skin, tearing through it, wrapping it around my heart—the one that only beats for him—and pulling it from my chest, and the world goes black.
I’m falling.
Fast.
The dark world around me is endless, and my screams are silenced before they leave my mouth. My chest burns, the fire consuming me, the smell of burning flesh filling my nostrils. I squeeze my eyes shut just as I hit the ground below, and I wait for the pain, but it never comes.
My eyes flutter open, and I find myself lying in a field, the moon shining bright above with a sprinkle of stars. I sit up, expecting to be back in my dreamscape, but this place feels different—this one isn’t mine.
I stand, a deep ache in my chest making it hard to breathe, and look around, taking it all in.
I’m in the middle of a valley, with a small stream flowing through the middle, and a waterfall on the other side feeding into it.
The air is cool, like a late fall evening, with leafless tree branches scraping against each other, and the scent of decay and earth filling the air.
“Hello?” a voice calls—the sound of it immediately bringing me comfort and easing the burning pain in my chest. It’s one I would know anywhere. “Is someone there?”
I turn and see a younger, more vibrant version of my mother. She stands in a fitted cream dress, her brown hair falling like autumn leaves down her chest and back. Her hazel eyes are bright, the moon bringing them to life as she approaches me.
“Mom,” I choke out as she steps closer, holding out her hand. I take it as soon as it’s within reach, pulling her into a warm embrace. “It’s me, Nicolette,” I say into her hair.
“Nikki,” she says softly, like a lullaby. “Whatever are you doing here?”
The burning in my chest flares up, and I break free from her grip, instinct driving me to claw at my skin.
The linen dress I was wearing before appears whole again, until I rip the bodice in an effort to stop the pain.
My chest glows, the skin singing as a bright blue orb pushes through.
I gasp as it escapes my body, leaving me feeling cold as I double over, pressing my palm against the hollowed space between my ribs.
I lift my head, my hair falling over my face, concealing the grimace that scrunches my features.
My mother stands there, staring at the small flicker of flame as it approaches her—an ember caught in the breeze.
“Nikki, what’s happening?” she asks, reaching out until her fingers brush the flame, her hands wrapping around it as if she’s a child catching a firefly. “What is this?”
She cups it in her hands, gazing down at the piece of her stolen soul and listening as it calls to her. She folds her fingers over it, clutching it to her chest. Her eyes widen as she takes me in, as if it’s the first time she’s truly seen me.
“Take it, Mom,” I say breathlessly, my body trembling. “It’s yours.”
She looks between me and the ember, her lip trembling. “Nikki, what do you mean?”
“Please, take it,” I whisper, my words turning sharp as the seeds of doubt begin to take root in my mind, and my human instincts threaten to take over—to kill me.
I look down and see my hands fading, becoming translucent. My mother stares in horror as she watches me start to vanish from existence. “Please, there’s not much time. You deserve to live your life, Mom. You deserve to have the part of your soul that Nick took back and be whole again.”
Her eyes widen, and her jaw loosens. “Nick?” She shakes her head, the flame flickering wildly in her hand. “No. It can’t be.”
She averts her gaze, her eyes turning silver rimmed, but before she can say another word, I force her hands against her chest, pressing the ember of her soul into her, giving her back the gift of her mind and her life—the missing piece.
My body fades faster as she drops to her knees, gasping. The dreamscape around me trembles; the trees nearby sway violently. “I love you, Mom,” I choke, stepping back so she doesn’t get caught in the crossfire.
I take another step, and my foot sinks into the earth beside the stream.
I turn and see my reflection in the water as the ground stills.
I recognize the face staring back at me, except for the eyes.
Instead of green, they burn hot like flames, casting a crimson glow.
I stumble back and gasp, squeezing them shut.
It can’t be.
I turn to see my mother on her knees, still clutching her chest in disbelief.
The faint glow of sunrise peeks through the trees as the pitch-black sky begins to brighten, the autumn landscape shifting to spring, the smell of rot fading away, replaced by the scent of strawberries and wildflowers.
The mist of shadows dissipates, and the looming Nightmares vanish—evaporated by the infant sunlight.
There’s a tug at my chest, pulling me toward the water, and I fight the urge to follow it just for one last glimpse of my mother, standing in awe at the changing landscape—becoming whole again.
Her eyes meet mine, shining brightly, and I blow her a kiss.
A searing-hot tear cascades down my face, landing in the stream below.
Steam rises from the water as I step into it, with the last thing I see being my mother’s smile as she catches the invisible kiss that floats through the air and presses it to her cheek, just as the current pulls me under.