The Monster In Me

Chapter Twenty-Two

Nalea

"I gotta go," someone says from above me.

What?

I feel like I'm having an out-of-body experience. My head and my vision are all fuzzy. I hum in response.

"What?" I voiced, or more coaxed, my voice hoarse and my throat hurts a little. The events of last night were playing in my head. I thought I was losing it, but the arm wrapped around my middle said otherwise.

"I gotta go," the person repeated. I know that voice, Grayson.

I shoot up, my vision clearing a little, but my eyes still felt heavy with sleep. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand. I squint at the light on the screen. I checked the date and the time.

"It's Saturday, uh..." I trailed off, trying to remember what today was. "Right, family brunch?" I guessed. I remembered seeing it on his calendar the night before. He hummed yes in response.

He looked at me thoughtfully before his jaw clenched tight, a ticking in his jaw. I chewed on my bottom lip, tempted to run my fingers through his brown curls. They'd felt nice playing in them last night.

Last night.

"Have fun," I say, barely stifling a yawn. I crawl back under the sheets, sinking back into Zaiden's arms. He traced patterns on my skin with his fingers, making me shiver. I yawn again, closing my eyes. Waiting for him to kiss me goodbye. Nothing. I crack an eye open to stare.

Look at him, barely able to contain his laughter while I'm here kiss deprived. He leans in placing his lips against my forehead. Not what I was expecting, but I'll take it.

His lips moved to my cheeks, then my jaw. Before kissing the side of my lips; finally connecting his lips with mine. His lips linger on mine for a moment, and I sigh, appreciating every minute of it.

"Later stranger," I mumbled, finding myself ready to pass out again.

I briefly hear him mutter "Princess," before I give into the slumber calling my name.

* * *

I've been on the verge of sleep and consciousness for about five minutes now, but the feeling of someone clinging to my arm painfully tight has me slowly coming out of it.

Am I dreaming? I'm imagining the pain, I tell myself.

But no, I felt nails extending to claws against my arm, dragging across the flesh. I wake up, looking down to where Zaiden clung to me. His nails dug into the juncture of my arm.

I carefully removed his hand from around mine, taking in the damage. There were five long claw marks, a crimson colour, covered in blood.

I don't miss the visible discomfort painted on his face, his brows pinched and a frown adorning his lips. He's having a nightmare?

I tap on his arm, trying to rouse him. Nothing. I call out his name, a bit of urgency in my voice. His hand had found mine again, holding on to me as if to center him to reality, yet he was still out. I call out harder, shaking his arm off me, but grasping it in my own. He shot up, seemingly trying to adjust to his surroundings.

I notice the single tear slipping past his eyes, I hold onto his hand tighter, giving it a little squeeze. I pull him into my arms and he buries his face in the crook of my neck. I rub tiny circles along his back, a shudder racking through him.

I placed a kiss on his cheeks, whispering, "It's okay, you're okay. I'm here, it was just a nightmare." I soothed, or I tried because he flew up as if I'd just burnt him.