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I open my eyes, then lean back as I tilt my head up Even thrust out of sleep as he was, he is exceptional, and I drink in the vision of hi the beauty of this man soothe my parched soul My breath hitches as I look into his eyes, those ical dual-colored eyes that show so much—passion, concern, determination And most of all, love

“Dahost of a smile upon his lips

“There she is” Gently he strokesmy hair back from my face “Do you want to tell me about it?”

I shake ative, but even as I do, I hear le word, “Blood”

Immediately, I see the worry prick in his eyes

“It was just a dream,” I say, but I don’t completely believe it

“Not a dreahtmare And this isn’t the first”

“No,” I adht More recently, I’ve jerked awake during the night within my chest and my hair damp with sweat This, however, was the first dream with blood

I pull backthe sheet around hts are still touching I do not want to think about the dreams, but if I must, then I need Damien’s touch to anchor me

“Did you cut?”

I shake my head “No Except—except I s, but wounds And they were open And there was blood everywhere and—”

He silencesthat I cannot hold on toheat so intense that it destroys everything except Nikki and Da between us, ready to ignite at the slightest provocation Ready to burn away anything that threatens this life that we are building together, be it the ghosts of our pasts or my fears of the future

My fears of the future?

I turn the words over in my head, and realize with a violent shock that they hold the weight of truth The realization bafflesMrs Da Da in this world that scares me the least It is what and who I am meant to be, and I am never more certain of that than when I am in his arms

Is that it, then? Am I afraid of the span between now and “Do you take this man”?

His thulint in his eyes “Tell me,” he says, in the kind of voice that allows no refusal

“Maybe they’re portents,” I whisper “The dreams, I mean” The words feel foolish on my lips, but I must say them I can’t hold the fear inside Not when I’m certain that Damien can turn it around

“Portents?” he repeats “Like a bad omen?”

I nod