She did.
CHAPTER 30
I Can’t Lose You Again
Ahigh-pitched, agonized cry pulled Ryker from his dreams. His eyes flung open, and he jolted upright with a gasp. His magic was a storm in his veins, and his heart hammered in his chest.
Instinct had his gaze swinging to his left to check on Brynleigh.
His heart nearly stopped.
She was sitting straight up, the sheet pooling at her naked waist. Her fists were clutched over her heart, her face was as pale as snow, and she was drawing in air as though she’d been drowning. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and sobs racked her body.
Ryker whispered her name, his voice low as though he were addressing a wounded animal, not the strong vampire he’d been losing himself in hours ago.
Her black eyes were unseeing, staring at the wall.
“It’s okay,” he murmured, reaching for her slowly so as not to scare her. “It was a nightmare.” At least, he hoped it was just a nightmare. “I’m just going to hold you. Is that alright?”
Taking a vampire by surprise, especially one who seemed to be in a bad mental state, would never be a good idea.
Several seconds went by before she dipped her chin.
It was the slightest movement, but it was all he needed.
Wrapping his arms around Brynleigh, Ryker drew her against him. She seemed so much smaller than she had when they were together earlier. She trembled, tears dampening his chest as her cheek pressed over his heart.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered, kissing her forehead. “I won’t let you go.”
And he didn’t.
Her shaking, gasping breaths continued for what felt like forever but was probably just a few minutes.
Ryker held his wife and rubbed her back, murmuring about nothing in particular. He didn’t care if he had to hold her all day; he would do it without question.
What had Brynleigh dreamed about that left her in such a state? She hadn’t even been this broken when he got her from The Pit.
He leaned back, still holding her against his chest, and looked out the window.
The sun was high; the yellowed rays tinted slightly gray by the special windowpanes he’d had installed. They’d stayed up until the early hours of the dawn, so it wasn’t surprising that they’d slept well into the day.
After several minutes had passed, Brynleigh’s breathing slowed. She lifted her chin and sniffled. “I couldn’t stop her.”
Worry creased his brows. “Stop who?”
Brynleigh drew in another shuddering breath and laced her hand through his.
“Jelisette,” she whispered, the word painfully quiet.
In the silence of their bedroom—because there was no doubt in his mind, this bedroom was theirs after last night—it was like she shouted her Maker’s name.
He tensed despite his efforts to stay calm.
Of fucking course, this had something to do with Brynleigh’s insane Maker.
It took everything he had not to growl as he asked, “What did she do?”
“She… oh, gods.” Another shuddering sob ripped through his vampire, and fresh tears flowed down her cheeks. “She chased me through a forest, staked me, and killed me. I mean… I thought…”