“She says he’s really there. That the bite gives him the ability to project into our brains while we dream. And once we transform, he will be able to get into our heads whenever he wants.”
Laura’s fingers twisted tighter. “Is he in your dreams?” she asked.
“He was. While I was at Cara’s, I was protected. Now that I’m here, he’ll try again.”
Laura’s mouth had pulled tight. Her fingers turned white from the pressure.
Jessie sat on her own cot. “Has he done something? In your dreams?”
The blonde woman looked away. Jessie’s stomach clenched.
“There was more than one in my last dream.” The words were barely choked out.
More than one? “More than just Braden?”
Laura nodded. “He said it was the way, with Dires. That I would enjoy it.” Her chin lifted. “And I did.”
Effing hell.Jessie tried not to let her horror show. “Braden is a vicious bastard. You don’t want him to possess you.”
“Is it true, then? Do the Dires share women among the pack?”
“I don’t know,” Jessie confessed. The very idea of being given to an entire pack... She thought she might throw up. “You have to fight him, Laura.”
Laura bit her lip, but she didn’t answer.
Jessie pushed. “Try the injections. Cara thinks they will work.”
Laura shot her a resentful look. “More werewolf blood? Why would I trade one monster for another?”
“Kade is not a monster!” Jessie was surprised at the vehemence of her outburst, and Laura shot her a look. She took a deep breath and tried again. “The idea isn’t to bond you to Kade. The blood should just reduce the impact of Braden’s blood. Enable you to stay independent of him.”
Laura hesitated. “Does Cara know that for sure?”
Jessie opened her mouth to say yes, but it would have been a lie. “No. Not for sure.”
“Why don’t you just run? As far away as you could go.”
Jessie rubbed at her face. Maybe Kade’s instincts were spot on. How to explain that it wouldn’t help? If fleeing to other realms wouldn’t block the connection, running away on this one would be pointless. But she doubted Laura would even believe her if she tried to explain about the gateways. She might not have either if that Manticore hadn’t walked in on her and Zach in the garden. No way that thing regularly romped on Earth.
She sighed. Laura must have fallen asleep while Jessie was out with the horses and Zach. Braden had managed to infiltrate another dream. And this thing about sharing with the pack sounded pretty horrifying. Now that Jessie had confirmed that Braden’s presence was real, surely the other woman would acknowledge the truth. That hewasa monster.
Jessie had to nip this running idea in the bud.
“I don’t think running will work, Laura. No matter where we go, Braden will find us.” She pulled back the covers and slid beneath. “The injections are our best chance to be free from him.”
Laura lay with her back to Jessie and pulled the sheets up. “I’ll think about it.”
Well, it was something, anyway. Jessie switched off the light and lay there in the dark, staring at the ceiling. Trying not to think about being chased not only by Braden, but by his entire pack of Dires. She wished that Buffy was here. The cat’s warm presence was soothing, but Laura didn’t like her being in the room. Jessie sighed and imagined her fingers drifting through gray fur. Eventually, she drifted off to sleep.
The entire forest was a dark and stormy place tonight.
The wind blasted through the treetops, sending the branches crashing against each other, ripping leaves and twigs free to rain down on her. The air was charged, the static crackling through everything she touched. Her fur stood on end, and her heart pounded in a triphammer rhythm that matched her racing feet.
Tonight, she had no doubt that she needed to run. As far, and as fast, as she could. His scent, and his anger, were laced throughout every gust of wind.
Braden was coming for her. And if he caught her...
Jessie ran. She pushed herself hard. But she knew it wouldn’t be enough. Here, in the dream, he was in control.
