I nodded. “When Shane found out that I helped his wife escape, he couldn’t break the promise by physically harming me, so he had his friend Duke Idris come in, and he told him to curse my mind. Everyone thought he was joking. I thought he was too. Everyone said smoke came out of his fingers. I never saw it, didn’t see any of it. But I see his fingers, his claws in my dreams. I always thought it was all in my imagination, but now, knowing you all exist, that witches and warlocks exist, I guess it’s true.”
Bear squeezed me tight. “Deep down, I think you knew. You knew something was wrong. You took finding out that we were shifters far better than I thought.”
I rolled my eyes. “Or the fact I was your mate… that might have something to do with it.”
Bear chuckled and nuzzled his nose into my neck. “Say it again.”
“Say what again?”
“That I’m your mate.”
“You’re my mate.” I grinned and wrapped my arms around his neck. Still, the tears from talking about the dreams leaked down my cheeks.
I could see Anaki shaking his floppy blond hair in my peripheral, but he said nothing as Bear and I had our moment. He just took another big bite of his meatloaf and grinned.
Chapter Twenty
Bear
Carefully,Ilaidmymate on the soft couch and cocooned her in the warm blankets. I wrapped it around her head and body so she couldn’t escape the warmth while I finished cleaning after dinner. My mate tried to wiggle free, but I gave her a stern look, and she stopped only to smile back up at me.
“I can’t change the channels if I’m all wrapped up like this,” she chided.
I loosened the blankets, giving her only enough room for her to use the remote to settle on a movie. She rolled her eyes and flicked through the channels while trying to shake her head.
As I entered the kitchen, I could see that Anaki had taken care of the majority of the cleaning, leaving me with the perfect opportunity to whip up some popcorn. He tossed the disposable tins into the trash, opting for a hassle-free cleanup, and gently rubbed his eyes. He was exhausted; his stamina was dwindling by the day.
“Get some rest on the recliner. I’m sorry I don’t have a spare room,” I grumbled as I grabbed a bag of popcorn and put it in the microwave.
Anaki waved his hand, a smile spreading across his face. “I’ll go to my cave. It isn’t far.” Anaki leaned on the counter while we sat in silence as the popcorn made itself known. “What do you think of her dream, Bear?”
I cleared my throat and rubbed the back of my neck. Nadia didn’t understand how profound dreams were in the shifter world. Many humans don’t. Human dreams could mean nothing, but once you were around someone who was your soulmate, the Goddess could bless you with information you never thought possible.
My mate had been cursed with nightmares, the images vividly playing out in her mind like a horror film. She would never want them to be real or decipher them.
“I know what you’re thinking.” I gazed at the back of my mate’s head. “But I think you are pulling at some strings here.”
Anaki tilted his head, giving me ayou’re such an idiotlook. “Seriously? She’s handed off to her ‘parents’”—he air quoted—“by another male and put on an airplane. I’m surprised that as smart as she is, she can’t figure that out on her own. Nadia was obviously handed off to someone else that is not her family.”
“She doesn’t believe in dreams or the meanings behind them. Can you blame her?” I tried to reason. The popcorn dinged, and I removed the bag. “She’s got enough going on in her life right now. Her dreams are cursed, she has fucking nightmares, she’s mated to me, she’s been alone for two years. She’s holding on to whatever normalcy she has left. The people that raised her as far as she is concerned are her parents. They gave her love, they are her family.”
I swiftly tore open the bag and poured its contents into a massive bowl. Anaki reached into the fridge, his hand brushing against the cool metal as he grabbed a beer. With a quick twist, he popped open the cap and chugged it down.
Anaki maybe a bartender but he was a lightweight, he would be out within thirty minutes over the one beer.
“I’ll find out why she was in that mansion, if the people that raised her put her there or if she went in there on her own. It’s all in time, Anaki. My mate is fragile and it’s all I can do to hold on and claim her right now.”
Anaki nodded, wiping his mouth. “I understand. I am happy for you, for the both of you.” Anaki grabbed my shoulder and squeezed. “But what about that salad? She woofed it down, huh?”
I took a handful of popcorn and shoved it into my mouth. She eagerly ate that salad the same way I used to hunt deer. She was ravenous, moaning like no one’s business.
Who gets that worked up over a damn salad?
“Let’s go see what romance chick flick movie she’s picked.” Anaki patted my back, deterring my thoughts.
As we walked into the living room, my mate turned and smiled. “I’ve picked one. You guys ready?”
Seeing that radiant smile effortlessly lifted the heavy weight that had settled on my shoulders. The soft glow of contentment filled the room as my beloved mate found security within the confines of our home. I was determined to continue to fill her happiness, providing an unwavering sense of safety that shielded her from the haunting nightmares that plagued her each night. It amazed me how resilient she truly was, for not once had I sensed her restless movements in the darkness.
