Man Of My Dreams

Chapter Seventeen

“Set her down gently,” he growled. I could feel Kian’s power crackling in the air. It was so thick and palpable I knew Jack had to be feeling it, too. But Jack didn’t set me down. He shifted his weight to his other leg and laughed. “You do realize killing me won’t stop her death from coming, right?” Jack sounded bored. Almost like he half expected this to happen. He dropped me hard. All the wind knocked out of me and I struggled to take a breath. That thoroughly pissed Kian off. 

  He reached and grabbed Jack by his throat. Jack didn’t even fight back. He knew it was useless. Kian’s much older than him, and a born vampire. The only born vampire. “Who put you up to this?” Kian demanded, slamming Jack into the hallway wall. Jack grunted, struggling to breath with Kian’s hands wrapped around his throat. He gargled out a laugh, “Like I’d ever tell you.” Kian growled. And then, snap! I watched the light leave his eyes. Other than relief, I felt confusion. Why not keep him alive? Torture the information out of him? 

  “Kian,” I whispered. He grabbed the handrail and yanked it from it’s post, and then snapped it in half and drove the stake into Jack’s heart. I flinched at the squelching sound it made when it pierced his heart. And then he was dust. He turned to me and knelt. “Are you okay?” I nodded. “Listen, I know you don’t think it is possible, but I think Silas is behind this.” He shook his head, “We’ll worry about that later. Let me get you home.” He scooped me up and carried me out of the house and to his car. He sat me gently in the passenger seat and closed my door. 

  The ride there was quick and silent. We arrived at his house in record time. He carried me to the elevator and then to his room. Laying me gently on the bed, he then examined me from head to toe. He probed my head gently with his fingers feeling for knots, quickly finding the culprit of my massive headache. I hissed at the contact. “I’ll get you some medicine, and–” He stopped speaking, eyes zoning in on my left shoulder blade. “What’s wrong?” His face turned white, “He bit you.” His voice was quiet and soft. Bit me? 

  “What, like fed from me?” Kian stepped away from me and to the window. He was shaking. “Kian, what is it?” “You’re going to turn, Wren. If you can survive the transition.” he said the last part with disgust and disappointment. I felt every bit of coloring fall from my face, my stomach dropped, and immediate panic began buzzing in my chest. He walked over to me and took me in his arms. “It’s going to be okay. I’ll be right here with you through it all.” “What will happen? Will it hurt? Is that where this splitting headache came from?” 

  I was terrified, but having him near admittedly helped. “I thought for sure the knockout is what had your head throbbing. But I didn’t even expect…” he shook his head, “I didn’t even think to consider.” A sudden wave of calm washed over me. I took a deep breath, breathing in Kian’s scent. With every inhale my anxiety eased. “You have to die. It will hurt. I’ve been told it feels like fire. Excruciating pain. If you’re strong enough, you will be reborn vampire.” My mouth dried at the thought of dying. 

  I didn’t know if I was strong enough, if my body was strong enough. I had spent my whole life trapped, hidden away from the world. If I died and didn’t come back… “If I don’t come through, I want you to know something.” Kian shook his head, “Don’t talk like that.” His voice cracked. “I just want to thank you for all of this.” I reached my hand up and touched his face. I felt my eyes drooping, becoming heavier and heavier by the second. I began to shiver, and Kian held me closer. “You’ll pull through this, Wren.” was the last thing I heard before I drifted into nothingness. 

  It was dark here. No light at all. I walked around in this dark place for what could have been hours or days, I couldn’t tell. Time didn’t exist here. There was no one else. No sounds. No birds chirping. No crickets singing. Nothing. Just dark. And then I started to feel the warmth. It was subtle, at first. And then, hot. White hot. All over me. Inside of me. Everywhere. I wanted to scream. I wanted to curl up in a ball on the floor. But I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. Just burn. I wondered if this was how it felt to be tossed into a lake of lava. 

  It went on and on and on. No end in sight. And then, days, weeks, months later, who knew… an icy cold set upon me. The cold shook me to my bones. At first, I welcomed it. Especially after that fire. Until it, too, became unbearable. The chill lasted so long, I was sure life for me was over. And then the cold left, just as abruptly as the fire. Back to nothing. No thoughts, no feeling, just… quiet. Dark. Nothingness. Eventually, I began to feel things. Physically. A hand in my hand. A gentle caress of my face. A finger tucking loose strands of hair behind my ear. 

  And then I could hear. Light footsteps pattering around me. A consistent beeping noise. The clicking sounds of a keyboard. Scribbling of a pen. Heartbeats all around. Breathing. A rushing of blood. And then, uncontrollable thirst. I was so thirsty, my throat burned. Ached. I could smell it. Blood. Everywhere. All around me. I needed it. I needed it more than the oxygen in my lungs. I needed it. Suddenly, my eyes shot open. I grabbed someone, a woman, and jerked her to me. I was so thirsty, I couldn’t stop myself. 

  I sank my teeth into her neck and drained her dry. I had drunk so much, I felt sick. Like I would throw up at any given moment. The door opened, and there stood Kian. His face was relieved, despite the dead nurse crumpled beside my bed. He rushed to my side, “How do you feel? I was gone for just a few minutes. I didn’t expect you to wake up so soon.” I felt sloshy. Miserably full. I took a deep breath. “I’m okay. I was… thirsty.” I glanced down at the nurse, and it took every ounce of focus and control I had not to spew bloody puke all over the floor. 

  “I didn’t mean to,” I said. Kian rubbed circles on my back, “Don’t worry about it. She knew the risks. You drank too much. You aren’t supposed to fill yourself on your first feed. Or even your second or third.” I nodded. I’ll be sure to never ever fill myself if I never have to feel this way again. Beautiful. Amazing. Lovely. I heard Kian say. Only his mouth didn’t move. Something inside of me snapped into place. I blinked. He was still staring at the floor thinking. I could hear every thought!

  Good thing she didn’t have any family. Need to get Wren home. Need to… every single thought. I was staring at him intently when he finally locked eyes with me. And then I felt something snap within him. Mate. Mate. Mate. Mate. Mate. Mate. The word was bouncing around in my skull. Mate. Just like the book had talked about. That was why I had been dreaming of him. He’s my mate. “Wren…” I smiled, “You’re my mate.” He nodded, slowly. A mate. This is unheard of. What do I do? “What do you mean what do I do?” 

  He blinked, You heard me? 

Yes.

  “What the–” The door flung open. It was Silas. His eyes narrowed in on me. A hateful look across his face sent a chill down my spine. “You traitorous bitch!” he snarled. A growl erupted from Kian, “Don’t you dare speak to her like that.” Silas chuckled, and then he strode closer to us. “You’ll wish her gone once you hear about what I’ve discovered.” I snorted, “What are you on about, Silas?” He pointed a finger in my face, “You think it’s funny now. Just you wait.” Kian pushed Silas’ finger out of my face. “If you want to keep that, I suggest you put it away.” 

  Silas laughed, “You’ve been bewitched. Whatever she has told you, whatever she has convinced you of, she’s lying! And I can prove it.”