“He’s immune to your powers?” I found myself wondering if it was a special gift of his or if it was the same for all the elders.
“I know you haven’t talked much of him, but I have to ask, is he something I should worry about?”
“Worry, no,” sliding in closer I kiss her temple and hug her to my body. “Observing yes, my father has always had a hidden agenda. He isn’t the type to show kindness. I’m not saying he would do anything to hurt us because family to my father is everything, but he does get tunnel vision. He can honestly become a little obsessive. So, like I said, be on alert, and when he is near, make sure I’m around too.”
Taryn doesn’t say anything, only curls closer into me and we lay together silently in the darkness. When I feel the weight of her body grow heavier, I know that she is truly asleep and I am alone with my thoughts.
I truly hope the motives of my father are innocent. Because if they are not, he and I are going to clash. The worst part about it is Taryn can’t even give me any insight. She was to become my secret weapon against figuring out my father, only now I am at this alone.
Taryn
Merick chases our daughter around the backyard. Her dark hair flies behind her as her giggle floats through the air.
Our baby sleeps peacefully in my arms as I watch Merick and our little girl. My heart feels so full and I feel at peace. A whistle pulls my attention to the yard and suddenly Merick flies back, landing on the ground behind us. Red spreads across his shirt.
“Merick!” I scream and run into the yard getting down on my knees next to him.
“Momma?” I look at my daughter and see blood seeping through the fingers she’s got clutched over her chest. She collapses on top of her dad.
“No…no, god no.” I tip my head back and a high pitched scream leaves my lips.
“Taryn? Taryn, baby wake up.”
I fly up in bed, my arms flying out to ward off the invisible evil that took my mate and child. Tears leak from my eyes when the sleepy fog leaves my mind.
“Baby are you okay?” Merick whispers softly. “It was just a dream. You’re safe, our baby is safe.”
I let him hold me as I cry, throat aching sobs. “It felt so real,” I whisper. “S-Someone shot you and s-s-shot our daughter.”
“A daughter, huh?” Merick kisses my sweat covered forehead. “Last time it was a son.”
This is the only other dream I’ve had like this, but they feel so real—from the fear, to the despair. Every time I wake up it takes me a while to come out of the fog. All I know is I hate them, and I pray for them to stop.
“Tell me about the dream, baby.” He situates us so I’m draped over part of his side, with my head on his chest.
When he places his hand on the tiny beginnings of a baby bump I feel safe and relaxed to tell him the dream from start to finish. “I was sitting on the porch with our new baby in my arms while you chased our daughter around the yard. She had this long dark hair that was flying behind her as she ran, giggling as you chased her.” Nausea pools in my belly.
“There was this whistling sound and then you flew back and landed hard on the ground. I ran to you as the blood stained your shirt.” Tears burn my eyes. “Our daughter called to me with her hands clamped over her chest. B-Blood was seeping between her fingers. I tilted my head back and screamed.”
He kisses my forehead and hugs me tightly to his chest. “Fuck, baby. I’m so sorry, but it was only a dream.”
I want to argue with him and tell him, no. This dream, just like the last one, felt more like a warning. I know our child is the key to restoring things the way they were before, but there is something out there that’s going to try and stop the baby from being born.
Merick hugs me close, letting his warmth seep into me, and he begins to softly hum. The combination is exactly what I need to fall into a dreamless sleep.
“Hey Mom, Hey Dad. How are you guys?” I’m in Merick’s office in front of his monitors doing a video chat. I thought it would be better to tell them face to face that I’ve met someone, fallen in love, and am having his baby, sort of in person—or at least face to face.
“Oh honey, we’re great. How are you? You look beautiful, by the way. Montana really suits you.” Mom smiles widely.
“Thanks Mom. Hey Daddy, how are you?” My dad is looking at me thoughtfully and I try to open up and hear his thoughts, but I can’t. Maybe because we’re not near each other.
“I’m good. John says you haven’t called him about restocking groceries or anything. Do you need me to get a hold of him? Are you at the cabin?” He, of course, would notice the background doesn’t match the cabin. I can see the skeptical look in his eyes and know already that he knows I am not.
I take a deep breath. “Um...no, I’m not at the cabin. That’s what
