Watching my mate’s animal crying in despair at my lifeless body, I sprung into action and roared a battle cry far larger than I could have ever done while I was awake.
My mate jerked her head to the noise, and I let her watch me as my human form took shape, then I sunk my claws into the chest of Duke Idris and pulled out his black, beating heart. The demon who took on his form melted the skin and muscle and turned into the smoke and shadows of what I saw hovering over her bed a week ago and screamed out a pitiful cry.
My mate’s animal cried out, whining, huffing, and crawling to me as I stomped on the heart with my bare feet.
“Baby, it’s all a dream.” I ran to her, scooped up her tiny bear form, and cradled her to my chest. “It’s all a dream, baby girl, it’s all a dream. Believe me. He’s wanted you to give up. Please believe me.” I rocked her back and forth, trying to keep the emotions from welling in my throat.
My mate had to believe me. She needed to know this was all fake.
“This isn’t real?” she linked me.
“No, none of it.” I breathed into her fur. “It feels like it, but it’s not, I swear it. All your friends are alive. No one is dead. This is a dream.” I wrapped my hand around her neck and scratched the fur there. “I came from the real world. I bit into your fur so I could be here with you in your dream to save you, little bee. Please believe me. I’m here to save you, okay?”
A bright light came from overhead, and I looked up, hearing the screams of the demon being ripped apart.
“Do you hear me? Do you believe me?”
“A-are they alive? Our friends?”
“Yes! Yes they are, believe me! I’m here, that isn’t me. That isn’t Teddy. I’m right here holding you!”
She sobbed like a tiny cub, and I knelt to the ground. The screams of the demon were so loud it nearly pierced my eardrums. I didn’t know how my mate could withstand the screams, let alone the pain of these dreams, but I was angry she had to endure this alone.
Why hadn’t she confided in me? Why had I never entered her dreams before?
The light shone brighter and brighter until the sun could not even compare. My mate screamed along with the demon until the light was so bright it blinded the both of us. When the light finally faded we were brought back into the dim lit room of shop.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Bear
Myeyespoppedopen.The table now collapsed on the floor, the pieces of wood lying haphazardly around us. I was on top of my mate’s body, which was now in the shape of a small bear. Her fur was soft and dark, her snout pushed against the floor, and her breathing steady. I felt my skin, noting that it was no longer covered in fur but smooth skin. Relief washed over me as I wiped away beads of sweat from my forehead.
My mate was still in her animal form. Her body breathing steadily, her heart pounding rhythmically in her chest.
“Is she alright?” Tajah asked from above.
Tajah and Bram had dark circles under their eyes, with drops of blood seeping from their tear ducts. Their bodies were slumped with exhaustion, and their faces etched with worry. They moved slowly as if they had no energy left. Both of them placed their hands over my mate’s body gently and with care. They stayed in the same position for a few moments, calmly and quietly.
“Is it gone? Is it out of her?” I rasped, placing my hand over the brown patch on my mate’s chest.
My mate had a beautiful shade of black and brown on her chest and maw. The perfect coloring for a sun bear. They were extremely rare, small, and, of course my mate would be one, just like I suspected. She was damn special.
“Yes, it’s out. I don’t detect any evil presence in her.” Tajah pressed her hand to her forehead again. “Do you Bram?”
Bram, being the more experienced with magic, pried one of her eyes open with his thumb and put his eye next to hers. He stared deep inside and shook his head. “There is nothing. She’s safe.”
“And where is the demon? It’s not roaming around the room, is it?” I pulled my mate into my arms, cradling her to my chest. She weighed just about a hundred pounds, almost as much as her human form.
“It’s in hell.” Bram broke the silence. “You can’t contain a nightmare demon on the living plane unless it has a host. If the Duke was here, I’d cast it in him.”
Tajah rolled her eyes. “You don’t have the strength to do that.”
“If I did…” Bram smirked. “I’d do a lot more than give him a nightmare demon.”
“That’s enough.” Hawke stepped from the shadows. “Bear, Bones, what can we do to help Nadia? What can we do to make her comfortable?”
I didn’t pay attention to any of them. I let my bond take over and seep into her. I didn’t care if I was naked, didn’t care if I was cradling my mate, letting my purr resonate throughout the room.
