There mysterious girl

Chapter 17

Caius spent the night in Bella's bed, watching her sleep. Her breathing was even and deep. Swimming in the ocean had leeched her of her energy, putting her into a deep sleep. She must have looked resplendent in the waves and he had to tamp down the jealousy he felt that Marcus had been there to see it and he had not.

There would be other times, he reminded himself. Times where she would be indestructible and not hampered by her current state, appealing though she was. She mumbled and rolled over, humming when she placed her hand over the place his heart once beat. She was so fragile. Overwhelming anxiety washed over Caius when he thought of what the Cullen brat was capable of in his madness. If he touched one hair on her head, he would pay for it in blood.

Caius couldn't believe Aro had seen these warped and twisted thoughts and allowed her to leave their presence with the boy. They weren't finished having words about it, either. His brother was lucky he left that conversation with his head intact. They would have that conversation and Bella would become one of them- no more fucking around!

Fuck Aro and fuck his requests around her head injury, reasonable though they may sound. Caius wasn't waiting one more day than necessary to change their mate. He had seen venom overcome much greater obstacles than this. Jane and Alec came to mind.

It was just before dawn when her nightmare started. Bella mumbled something that Caius couldn't make out even with his sensitive hearing. Although he didn't know what she was saying, her tone was clearly distressed. She thrashed once and then twice, getting tangled in the bedding.

"Shh," he murmured, rubbing circles on her lower back. "Amore mio, you're dreaming..."

She gasped, her eyes flying open. Her heart was racing, her fear palpable. She sat up abruptly, clutching her chest and heaving, attempting to get as much air into her lungs as possible.

Caius knew what was happening, his prey often had such panic attacks when they realized they had been lured into their castle to die. Only, their anxiety was fleeting. The lucky ones were dead before they fully understood what was about to happen to them.

"Bella," he said, not knowing what to do and hating it. "It was a dream. You are safe. I'm here."

"Caius," she gasped, her eyes finally landing on him.

Her heart rate slowed, although it was still much faster than its usual rhythm. Bella wrapped her arms around her torso, shaking like a leaf. Caius hated being unable to help her when she was clearly so terrified. He should probably summon his brothers, but he knew she hated being the center of attention and didn't want to make a bad situation worse.

"What is it, amore?" he asked, stroking her arm. "What did you dream?"

She shook her head, her hair falling over her shoulders and obscuring her face from him.

"It was- I can't..." she trailed off, unable to voice whatever is was that she'd seen in her sleep.

"Tell me," he urged. "Talking about it might help. I will never allow anyone to harm you, Bella. Please let me help."

Caius was sure he'd never been more desperate to know someone's thoughts. He was also sure these were the gentlest words he'd ever used in his very long existence. The bond they shared seemed to pulse, guiding him in what to say and to run his fingers through her hair in featherlight strokes. Bella must have felt something as well because she leaned into him, resting her weight against his torso.

"I dreamed of Edward," she said in a low voice. "But he wasn't himself- at least not the Edward I knew. He- he was in my house, Caius. Standing over my father while he slept on the couch. His eyes were red. And-"