Her eyes widened. They were so vivid. Their deep-brown color reminded him of chocolate. His stomach grumbled. “Do you have any chocolate?”
Chapter Nine
“Chocolate?” Kaila repeated. She wasn’t sure if she had heard Seamus correctly or if she was losing her mind from exhaustion. She had never felt so tired in her life. Her limbs ached and her eyes burned.
“Yes, I’m hungry. I haven’t had breakfast today.” His nose wrinkled and he pressed his lips into a thin line. “I think I haven’t. I’m not sure anymore.” He glanced around him, apparently confused. “Where are we?”
“In Sloth’s lair.”
“Right.”
She waited for him to say something else, but he remained impassive. As if it were a giant tarantula, fear extended its long legs and crawled over her skin to firmly attach itself at her heart. She was still drowsy and sleepy, but something was wrong.
In all the years she’d known Seamus, she’d never seen him looking so lost. It was unlike him. She gaped at him. He stared back at her, expectantly. Damn. If only she could get some sleep, then maybe her brain would start working again and she’d be able to understand what was happening.
“Aren’t you sleepy?” she asked him.
He shook his head. Okay. So only she wanted to curl on the floor and go into la-la-land. She slid her gaze across Seamus’s body. Preferably with him. Her face heated. Damn. She’d been dreaming about having sex with him again, hadn’t she? She closed her eyes. The image of them together, blissfully resting, washed over her.
“Kaila, I’m hungry.”
Her eyes snapped open. “Right.”
Seamus was hungry and something strange was happening. She couldn’t go to sleep, not yet. Unless… She bit her bottom lip as a plan began to form. Surely, Seamus wouldn’t reject laying at her side for a little bit?
“Would you like to take a nap?” She curled her fingers around his arm, commanding his attention.
He laughed and turned left and right while searching for something.
“Nap? No. Not here. This place looks uncomfortable.”
She hid her disappointment. “Okay.”
They continued walking. Suddenly, a spark of hope lit inside her as his words registered. Not here. He would nap with her somewhere else. All she had to do was find where they could rest and then heaven would be theirs. She smiled. “Let’s look for a place to sleep.”
“And eat,” Seamus added.
“And eat,” she agreed.
She slid her hand into his. It engulfed hers completely, warming her from head to toe and making her press herself closer to him. She yawned loudly while they strolled. The white walls made her think of clouds, pillows, and bedding.
“What am I?” Seamus asked.
She stopped in her tracks, forcing him to a halt, and looked up at him. “What do you mean, what am I?”
“We’re not the same. I have these things on my back and you don’t.”
Her blood turned cold. She swallowed drily, hoping to dissipate the dread curling in her stomach. She cast her sleepiness aside and forced herself to focus on Seamus. He grinned sheepishly at her, like a shy schoolboy who didn’t understand his lesson.
“Do you know my name?” she whispered.
“Kaila.”
Her heart resumed beating and she let out a loud breath she hadn’t been aware of holding. “Okay, yes. Good.” She smiled. “You’re a Guardian.”
She resumed walking. Seamus followed. Her lethargy returned, making every step more difficult. She stumbled.
Seamus steadied her. “And what do I guard? You?”
Her heart skittered, and she hurried to shake her head.
“No, you make sure the balance between good and evil stays equal,” she said.
“Do I know how to fight?”
“You’re carrying a sword, Seamus. Of course you know how to fight.”
He shrugged. What was wrong with him? Kaila bit back a yawn. She rubbed the bridge of her nose. If only she could get some sleep, then she could figure out what was happening.
“Hey, what’s that?” Seamus asked.
She looked in the direction he was pointing. Her vision was blurry, but from their position, it appeared as if the hall widened into a white ocean.
“I don’t know.”
“It looks like a sea of milk,” Seamus said. “With an island. Wait, I think there are pillows.”
“There are?” she asked.
Tears threatened to spill from her eyes. Pillows! Excitement coursed through her and she tugged on Seamus’s hand so he would walk faster. Soon, they’d be able to sleep.
They ambled down the hall almost mindlessly until the room widened and they stopped at the edge of a beautiful sight. The walls were the color of clouds on a perfect summer day, but her attention lay on the floor. The skillful artist had painted an ocean, in which the foamy waves appeared to roll across the floor in a soothing pattern. She could practically hear the sound of the crashing waves. However, what had her grinning from ear to ear was the sight in the center of the room. Atop what appeared to be a small island and surrounded by dozens of pillows, was a round, floating bed. Flimsy white curtains fluttered around it, inviting her to step through and sleep.
Kaila sighed. She didn’t quite remember what she had to worry about, but she knew sleeping would take all her troubles away. She could no longer stand the pressure, the constant tension, the fatigue.
“Come on,” she urged and ran forward. Casting her weapons and backpack aside, she threw herself onto the soft mattress. She breathed in deeply. It smelled like her favorite detergent. She closed her eyes. Peace at last. The structure rocked as Seamus climbed in next to her.
“Kaila, I’m not sleepy.”
He touched her shoulder. She cursed under her breath and turned to face him. She forced her eyes open. Seamus had his arms crossed over his chest. His blue eyes narrowed and his lips pressed into a thin line of displeasure.
“It’ll only be a moment, okay?” she said.
“Kaila.”
“Please, Seamus.” She bit her lip to keep it from trembling. She grasped his forearm and even in her state, she felt him tense beneath her fingertips. This was why she needed to sleep, so she didn’t have to worry about reacting to him. “Please.”
“All right,” he finally said.
Kaila smiled as he tugged her to him so her back was to his front. Her body tightened at his proximity, but she ignored it. She took in a deep breath. Seamus smelled like leather and something else. It wasn’t sweet. Perhaps a bit earthy and difficult to describe. It was uniquely his and she couldn’t put a name to it, but it always had an effect on her. He kissed the top of her head and she relaxed in his arms. This was perfect. To fall asleep cradled in Seamus’s arms, warm and at peace. Nothing could ever touch them. Here she didn’t have to worry about anything. Eternal happiness was seconds away.
Seamus moved, jolting her awake. “Kaila, I can’t sleep. I’m hungry.”
He ran his palm across her side. She could feel his hardness nestled against her ass. Goosebumps covered her arms.
“You’re probably just tired.” She forced the words out.
His hands touched her hair, massaging her scalp. She chewed on her bottom lip.
“No, I mean, yes, I’m tired, but there’s something else.”
His breath was hot on her ear. The warm trickle of her juices flooded her panties. She turned in his arms. His leg wrapped around hers, drawing her lush against him. His cock rested at the apex between her thighs. Her sleepiness began to abate. Sensual flames nipped her flesh, making her acutely aware of the man tangled in her arms. He was twice her size in bulk and muscles. His body emanated heat. Kaila shivered. His hands could easily wrap around her neck and take her life. Instead, he held still, waiting for her to make a movement. His smoldering gaze found her and the desire coursing through her spread like a wildfire.
She brushed her lips against his. They were soft and firm,
warm and inviting. He hauled her up so her sensitive breasts were crushed against his solid chest. His hand cupped her ass, bringing her ripe against his erection. Kaila pressed harder and he opened up to her. Her tongue eagerly explored the recess of his mouth. His taste was familiar, like mint, coffee, and promises of tomorrow. She moaned. His fist buried in her hair, and then dropped to her nape. She felt a sharp tug on her neck.
“Sorry, got tangled,” he mumbled.
Kaila glanced down. Reality crashed around her, and she scrambled away from Seamus while clutching her necklace. Melisa. How could she have forgotten her sister?
“Get up. Seamus, get up.”
“What? What’s wrong, Kaila?”
“Something is happening. Sloth is tricking us. It has to be him. I would never forget my sister otherwise. This has to be a trap.”
No sooner had she spoken the words, the sound of heavy wings parting the air came toward them at high speed. Swoosh. Swoosh. Swoosh.
“Seamus, grab your sword.”
She searched for her daggers. Where were they? She jumped to the floor, searching in the pillows at her feet. Had there been so many before?
“Seamus, help me find my weapons.”
The Guardian had his sword in his hand, but he wasn’t in position. He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at it as if he didn’t know what it was.
“What are you doing?” Kaila cried.
“I don’t know how to use it,” Seamus said.
“What?”
A dark shadow obscured the light. She lunged, covering Seamus’s body with her own. The beast above them screeched as it lost sight of them amid the sheer curtains. She recognized the call. It was a Dream Catcher. Fuck. How could she have been so blind? How could she have allowed Sloth to wrap his tendrils of magic around her?
“What was that?” Seamus asked. He squinted at the sky, ostensibly more curious than concerned.
“A Dream Catcher.”
“A what?”
“Something very bad that will you eat you up and spit out your bones, okay? No time to explain now, just stay here. Don’t move. Or rather, move only if that thing comes to attack you, then you run and hide somewhere, okay?”
She didn’t bother to wait for a reply from Seamus. Instead, she continued her frantic search for her daggers. Where had she cast them? Had she thrown them off before reaching the island? She looked across the floor, but the design confused her, making it seem as if the ground were moving.
Another shriek. She twisted her neck. The beast was coming toward her. She rolled to the side, avoiding it by mere millimeters as it regained altitude and turned its heavy body around. Thank goodness, the animal was incapable of making sharp turns.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” She repeated the words like a mantra as she frantically rummaged through the pillows. The glint of a blade caught her eye and she dove just as the monster screeched.
“Yes.” She grasped her knives and jumped into a crouching position. The creature circled over them. The ideal thing would be to run, but with Seamus in a seemingly catatonic state and no way of knowing where the exit was, their only hope was beating the giant. Not an easy task.
The Dream Catcher was similar to a decaying dragon. Large, paper-thin wings somehow gave it the ability to fly. Its bony structure had no flesh. Instead, it was covered with a translucent web-like substance that allowed one to peer into its revolting innards. Even though it was transparent, the material covering the Dream Catcher couldn’t be pierced easily and was hot to the touch. However, Dream Catchers did have a weak point: their underbelly. If one were capable of ripping it open and spilling its guts, one had probabilities of surviving.
The creature cried out. Its disgusting body reeked of death as it neared her. Kaila held her breath. It was worse than rotting meat. Her knuckles turned white from the vise-like grip she had on her weapons. The beast started its descent. Its red, beady eyes scanned the ground, searching for its prey. Her muscles tensed. Just a little more, and she’d have it where she wanted.
“Come on, you disgusting piece of dead meat,” she murmured.
The beast shrieked. Cold sweat rolled down her back. Her gut knotted. Behind her, a leather boot creaked and feather wings ruffled. Her heart stopped.
Seamus.
Kaila watched in horror as the animal lunged at the man standing a few feet behind her, sword in hand, the tip resting against the floor. His wings were neatly folded behind his back and his eyes stared at nothing.
Chapter Ten
No,” she screamed. “Here, here.”
She wildly waved her hands in the air, trying to attract the Dream Catcher’s attention away from Seamus. She yelled out his name, but he didn’t react. He reminded her of a young boy sitting on the path of a moving train and completely unaware that he was about to die.
Kaila ran to him and slipped on the pillows, the once-welcoming items now a death trap. She refused to give up. She couldn’t lose Seamus. In a desperate effort, she threw one of her knives to the Catcher, praying she hit its soft spot or at least distracted him from Seamus.
It didn’t work. The blade bounced against the animal’s hard claws and tumbled to the ground, where it fell without a sound. Kaila watched as the creature let out a cry of victory and swallowed Seamus in a hefty gulp.
She stared, stunned. There was nothing in his place except for scattered pillows. Not even blood. Everything remained as white and impeccable as before. Except, Seamus was gone.
She gulped for air as the realization hit her. Seamus was dead. She covered her mouth with a hand. She was going to be sick. Her knees doubled over and she heaved. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
The Dream Catcher screeched as it soared. She lifted her gaze. The beast’s beady eyes focused on her. Heat flushed through her body as she stood. She pinched her lips and wiped at her eyes. Seamus would not die in vain. Kaila planted her feet wide apart, her dagger at the ready. She would get out of this, for him. She would find Mel and bring her home just as she’d intended to. She would not allow herself to succumb to grief. Not now.
The Dream Catcher charged.
“Vince Malum!” Kaila screamed the Guardian’s war cry as she dropped and rolled forward, instead of to the side.
Confused and unable to turn quickly, the animal flew on, but it was too late. Kaila lifted her arm and drove her weapon into its underbelly. Sweat poured down her back and over her eyes as she attempted to slash it open. The knife was jammed. The creature thrashed about in an apparent attempt to shake her off. She hung on for life. With her other hand, she reached for the other knife in her belt.
“Fuck.” She’d flung it at the Dream Catcher earlier.
The monster, larger than two elephants, easily took to the skies, screeching. Kaila grasped the weapon with both hands, imploring it to hold. The Dream Catcher’s entrails created nauseating patterns, like shadows pleading for freedom. Disgusted, she looked down. Her eyes widened as she took in the rapidly shrinking world below.
“Oh, my God.”
The halls she and Seamus had walked through were a labyrinth which led straight to the white ocean. No visible exit. Dizzy, Kaila closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She needed to clear her mind and act. If she released the knife, she fell. With any luck, she would land on the bed or on some pillows, but there was no guarantee she’d do so in one piece. If she did survive, the creature would no doubt attack her again. No, she had to get it open and kill it. The problem was how. The tip of her iron-clad boots caught her eye.
“Of course,” she mumbled.
It’d be a risky move, but she had to try. Her only other option was to tumble to death. Her strength waned by the second. She looked up and held her breath. In a less than smooth movement, she lifted her left leg and let go of her knife with her right. She reached for her boot, fumbling with the bottom of her trousers. Her grip on the dagger’s hilt slipped. She clenched her teeth and tightened her hold.
“Come on,” she said, tugging at her pants.
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br /> Finally, they gave out. With a cry of victory, she snatched her prize: a concealed switchblade. Trembling, she held it between her teeth and pulled herself up. She wiped the droplets of sweat from her eyes with her bicep. Now came the part that could kill her. She grasped the knife and shoved it next to the other. Blood trickled down the blade. She tried to remove the dagger, but it wouldn’t shift. The creature hollered and started to spiral toward the floor.
“No.”
Frantic, Kaila pulled at both knives. She had to get out of the way or the animal would squash her. The switchblade slid, opening up the Dream Catcher. It bucked, probably trying to get rid of the thing causing it pain. Kaila sucked in a breath as she lost her hold on the embedded dagger.
Her arm flailed for a second before she slapped the Dream Catcher’s web. Agonizing pain on her palm caused her vision to blur. The smell of burning flesh entered her nostrils. Her hand was scorching. She attempted to pull back, but she was glued to the surface. She glanced down. They were close enough to the ground that the fall would not kill her. Biting back tears, she tore the switchblade from the Dream Catcher’s belly and inserted it near her hand. The beast cried out and beat its wings with fury.
Pain shot up her arm. She gasped. Her muscles strained against the force of holding her full weight. They were rising again. She had to act fast. Biting her lip until she tasted blood, she hacked at the area around her hand. Warm gore fell over her eyes, momentarily blinding her. The creature soared higher, as if flying would make the pain vanish. Kaila glanced down. If she cut the remaining tissue, she’d plummet.
She swallowed dryly. Not many alternatives.
“Think, Kaila,” she whispered.
The animal’s leg caught her attention. Safety. If she could get to its bony limb, the Dream Catcher’s poisonous flesh or the blood spilling from its wounds wouldn’t affect her. No time to lose. The animal swerved. She gritted her teeth and hacked at the mesh. Her palm partially free, she propelled herself forward. Her muscles protested at the treatment. She ignored the pain and stabbed the Dream Catcher again. The dagger stuck so that she hung eagle spread from the beast’s underbelly. Her scream of pain seemed to echo in the air as she yanked her hand free. For an instant, she hung limply, held only by the knife embedded in the animal. If it gave to, she’d die. She didn’t wait, but sprung forward and clapped her hand onto the Dream Catcher’s skin again.
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