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She felt restrained She stared into the darkness, feeling thefrohs, her stomach, as a stark red haze met her vision and a feline scream tried to tear from her throat

She jerked upright, sightless, fighting to breathe, fighting to see what she couldn’t see, to remember what she refused to re into the hter echoed in her head

“Dawn’s rising soon It won’t be dark any longer”

The soft, sweetly pitched voice whispered through the rooe of violent fury, crouched and snarling, feeling her lips peel back from her canines as she prepared to attack

The eneown shrouding her figure, her waist long, pitch black curls fra her heart-shaped face, and her eyes eerie, brilliant blue glowing points in the darkness of the room

It took Dawn a moment to realize that her weapon, never far froer was tre the thin tank top and gray boxer panties she wore as she shivered in reaction

The chill of the air conditioner washed over her flesh, sending a harsh shudder racing through her body as Cassie Sinclair stared at the weapon

“You shouldn’t have to wake in the dark alone,” Cassie said gently, reaching out to turn on the light by the chair Dawn flinched at the movement

Growls vibrated in her throat, and a distant part of her screamed out in horror at the animal that had pushed ahead of her and stared at the kid with ruthless savagery

She had to fight back the rage, the memories that weren’t memories, that screamed in her head and refused to show themselves The ones that the animal, determined to survive, refused to let the woman confront

“Dash” The as savage, guttural “Where’s Dash?”

The girl’s father should never have allowed her there alone He should watch after his daughter better, rather than allowing her to slip into a room with a beast that could already taste blood

A single tear slipped down Cassie’s cheek as her lips trembled But there was no fear No scent of terror, just of pain, compassion And Dawn hated it

She forced the weapon down She forced herself to ease out of the crouch, but she couldn’t force back the screa in her head A child’s screams, an animal’s screams, horrific in their terror and pain

“Dad is still asleep,” the girl said gently, her handto indicate a tray that sat on a nearby table There was a steaht we’d have soin your day, Dawn I didn’t want you to have to wake alone this ”