A dream of Storm that same night as she slept in Justin’s parents’ mini mansion, in one of the rooms on the first floor.**Dream in third person POV, capturing the feelings of the parties involved.**Storm knew she was dreaming, taking in her surroundings even as she shivered in a man’s arms, Kaden, when she saw him clearly, drawing his attention to the driving rain. Kaden inhaled deeply to center himself and to calm the fury of the rain he had used to regain her. At once the rain slackened to a light drizzle. Overhead the towering cloud began to break apart. The wind rose to help push the mist away."You are hurt, Kaden. Instead of waiting for me - and you knew I would come to you the instant I rose - you ran from me." He took a running leap in the air effortlessly, shape-shifting into a large wolf as he did so.Storm gasped and clutched at the long lush hair and fur rippling over his body. She closed her eyes against the earth rolling away from her, against the wind rushing around h

Dream Continuation:At the first brush of Kaden’s fingers against the bare skin of her stomach, Storm’s breath caught in her throat, and her body went still. He pulled the shirt over her head with a single fluid motion, leaving her vulnerable and exposed. He barely gave her lacy bra a thought, using a razor-sharp fingernail to dispense with it. His attention was on the puncture wounds on her side, the scrapes on her back.He swore. She knew that was what he was muttering although she didn't understand the language. And then he bent his head low, his thick mane of midnight-black hair brushing her ribs, sending darts of fire dancing over her skin. At the first touch of his tongue, she closed her eyes, unable to believe the exquisite beauty of the moment. She felt his lapping, velvet soft yet slightly rasping across her damaged skin, a mixture of soothing sensuality.Even as he took time and great care to see to the wounds on her body, the clothes covering his skin became unbearable, con

At the same time, Tensel’s Estate.Damonq closed the door after the healer had left and leaned against it. "It is safe, Elina. We need to talk."She'd been dreading this moment, but knew it had to come.Why won't you put yourself in the ground?" Elina asked. "You need to heal properly.” She has been saying the same to him for the past three days, but the stubborn man always found reason to stay above the ground, with her."I need to know why you are so afraid all the time. Even afraid of your friend," Damonq said, no inflection whatsoever in his voice, yet she shivered, aware, without knowing how, that if Jane had done something to make her afraid, he had no problem removing her from existence. He'd appointed himself her champion and would follow through, even if it meant putting him at odds with all ancients.She shook her head. "Jane would never do anything to hurt me." But she didn't know that anymore. She couldn't be certain."Elina. I have a need, not a want, to know why you're a

Elina felt a shiver go through her. Her body felt hot in comparison to his. That worried her. She knew he needed to be in the healing soil, and the fact that he refused to do so made her anxious beyond her comprehension. "Damonq," she whispered his name. Fearing for him. "Please do as the healer asked.""Shh . . . Listen to the words I say to you. First, in my language, the ancient language of my people, and then in your language so you understand the enormity of the sacred vows I am saying to you. I am tying us together. Giving you my heart and soul and body. I will take into my keeping your heart and soul and body. You will be safe with me."His fingers tightened around hers, his thumb still moving until she felt that caress go right through her skin straight to her heart. He had an effect on her she didn't understand. When he spoke his language, his voice was deep, the timbre commanding, vibrating through her body as if he was striking chords in her that were already prearranged and

"There are ways to remove it." Again, Damonq’s voice was gentle and there was no judgment of any kind. He wasn't trying to persuade her one way or the other, he simply was voicing what she already knew."Of course, my first thought was I had to get rid of it. A child of the vilest creature on the face of the earth? There was no question. I couldn't stand the thought of it growing inside me like some monster with claws ready to tear me apart from the inside. The pain was so excruciating. I was terrified of what it would be, what horrible thing Darkness had conjured up and put inside of me. Every bad horror movie ever made played through my mind over and over." She was shaking so hard she could barely stand.He moved into her and gathered her into his arms. His body was large, strong; his arms felt like security, a security she hadn't known ever in her life. He sheltered her against his heart. She could feel it beating, strong and steady, just as he was. He felt invincible."You're the