17: Lily

Maybe Erica was right. Maybe she was taking things too quickly with Jayce. She was always like this

with a guy. She'd fall too quickly, and it would just be a mess in the end. The same result with

Jasper, except he took things too far and she couldn't turn back. Jayce, to her, was like an

untouchable force with a quick temper and an insatiable lust. Lily had sensed his power that flowed

through his veins. The power of an Alpha. A King. He had grown accustomed to doing things alone,

or with help from his Beta, Damion. Yet there was still this thick black curtain that stalled her from

approaching him. It wasn't his Wolf. She faced him head on. He was purposely keeping her out, and

for reasons she didn’t know.

"I could try talking to him, but he might get angry with me.” She muttered to herself as she was

heading to their bedroom. Since Marking her as his Mate, he clarified she was to share a bed with

him from now on.

A light in his office caught her attention, and she made her way toward it. She glanced inside,

seeing the desk empty and the TV off. Soft snoring drew her closer to the lounge sofa, where she

spotted Jayce asleep with a book open on his chest. Her eyes widened when she recognized it as

her own.

"He's reading my book..." she whispered. She looked at his peaceful face, smiling to herself. "You've

been working nonstop lately.” Lily brushed his hair from his face. She carefully took the book,

folding in a corner piece to bookmark it and set it on the coffee table. Lily looked around his office

before quickly leaving and returning with a blanket. She draped it over him in hopes not to wake

him and left a kiss on his forehead.

"Goodnight, Jayce." She said before turning off his light and leaving him be. When she made it to

their bedroom, she felt a pressure in her head. It didn't feel like a headache of any kind she dealt

with before. The pressure increased until it brought her to her knees. The searing pain brought tears

to her eyes until it suddenly vanished.

"What the Hell was that?" She asked aloud, but no response came to her. Perhaps she was just tired.

She was also busy with Erica with setting up the book signing. Let alone the second book she was

working on to. She yawned and stretched before crawling under the covers. She rested her hand on

the space where Jayce's body would have been sleeping, taking in his scent and letting sleep

overtake her.

She felt the blankets shift beside her, but her eyes wouldn't open. Cold, slender fingers trailed along

her waist, goosebumps forming along the way. She tried to move her fingers, but felt as if they were

being held down. Sleep paralysis? No, this felt different.

She opened her mouth to call for Jayce, but her voice wouldn't come. The fingers moved under her

shirt, forcing her onto her back. The hand groped her breasts maliciously. She didn't want this.

Stop.

The hand moved up from her breasts and wrapped around her throat. It squeezed as another hand

crept down her stomach and into her shorts. She wanted to squirm, to fight, to scream, but she felt

trapped.

Jayce!

Lily's eyes snapped open as she bolted upright in bed, sweat covering her body. Sun glared in

through the window, birds softly chirping. Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest when she

noticed that the space beside her was still empty. She didn't feel alone last night. It was real. Too

real

She climbed out of bed, feeling fatigued, and got changed. Her eyes went to her breasts, her

stomach, her throat as she gazed into the mirror. Nothing looked out of place.

"I guess it was just a bad dream. A really fucked up one though.” She grumbled tiredly.

After she got changed into black leggings and a white sweater, she brushed her fingers through her

hair as she went down to the kitchen, where she found Erica finishing up her breakfast.

"Jesus Christ, you look awful. Did you sleep at all?" She asked her as Lily looked into the fridge.

Nothing looked appetizing.

"I think so? I had this really horrible dream last night. It felt so real.” She said, feeling the pressure in

her head. She grabbed her head as it started throbbing, dropping to her knees again.

"Lily!" Erica rushed over to her side, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"My head. It hurts.” She winced, tears dripping onto her leggings.

"We should take you to the hospital.” She told her, but the pressure was soon gone. Lily wiped her

eyes, slowly standing up with the assist from Erica.

"Maybe later. I have therapy soon.” She told her.

"Fuck therapy. You looked like you were in so much pain." Erica said, her temper rising.

"It might just be from stress, and the lack of sleep last night didn't help at all. I'll go right after my

appointment.” She told her, hearing a horn go off outside, “The car is here." She quickly left before

Erica could get another word in

"Lily, are you alright?" Doctor Marshall asked her. Lily had been sitting quietly for sometime now,

her eyes on her lap. She couldn't get herself to talk about anything. She had done so well with

breaking down her walls, but now she can't get a single word out. It was like some presence was

holding her back from talking.

"Um... Actually, I'm not feeling all that well. I'm going to head back home." She said as she got up

from the couch. Doctor Marshall stood up with her.

"Wait." She stopped Lily for a moment, grabbing both of her hands. Warmth tickled her veins,

relaxing her. She felt the presence slowly disappear.

"What did you do?" Lily asked curiously.

"I cast away the darkness that was in your head. Now tell me what happened.” She said, and this

time Lily felt free to speak up.

"I had this dream last night..." she explained. "It felt so real. I couldn't move. Couldn't talk. These

hands..." she stopped as the memory was vivid in her mind. Doctor Marshall squeezed her hands

tightly.

"Did these hands harm you in any way?" She asked her. Lily nodded as realization hit her. They

molested her in her sleep.

"It wasn't Jayce." Lily confirmed instantly, "I don't understand... Who would've..." her eyes locked on

Doctor Marshall and they both knew immediately. Lily's body shook uncontrollably. "He's in my

head again..."

"Lily, easy." Doctor Marshall sat her back down on the couch. "I'll call Jayce immediately.” She said,

but Lily grabbed her hand.

"No! Please... He has so much to do right now with the festival... I don't want to trouble him

anymore than I already have." Lily couldn't stop herself from shaking still.

"You're his Mate, and my Luna. Your safety comes first." Doctor Marshall told her, but the woman

hesitated. She let out a sigh. "Are you sure you don't want me to call him?" She asked again, and Lily

nodded.

"Please. I don't want to trouble him." She said, her eyes downcast as she slowly lost the will to fight.

Then she felt it again. The pressure from this morning. It was sitting in the back of her head, a very

tiny sliver throbbing into existence.

"Very well, but I should have someone take you back.” She said as she took out her phone. The

pressure shifted to the right side of her head, just about her ear.

Let her find an escort.

A voice hissed into her ear, and she looked around, frightened. There was no one aside from her

and the doctor. She felt Doctor Marshall's eyes on her and she gave a weak smile.

A short time later, a soft knock came from the door and Damion opened it, glancing over to Lily. Lily

stared back, a little surprised to see him.

"Good morning, m'lady. Your chariot awaits.” He gestured out the door. Lily looked over at Doctor

Marshall before nodding and followed the Beta out.

"Thanks Damion. Have a good day, Doctor Marshall." Lily said with the best smile she could manage

before following Damion out.

"Doctor Marshall said you weren't feeling well. So I'll be taking you back home to rest." Damion said

with his back to her. She felt relieved as they exited the building and Lily looked around. The

pressure kissed along where her ear was, reminding her it was still there.

"Erica told me to stay home, but I guess my stubbornness got the best of me." She laughed

awkwardly. Damion looked back at her as they walked up to a beautiful black pick up. He opened

the door for her.

"I see you two are peas in a pod.” He chuckled after she got in.

"What can I say? She rubbed off on me." Lily joked honestly now. Damion laughed with her as he

started his truck.

"Hey Lily?" He asked as he turned to look at her.

"Yes?" she asked him, meeting his apologetic gaze.

"Forgive me." He said as her vision went dark and she felt cloth over her nose. An odd odor filled

her senses, and she lost all will to fight.

"You did what?!" a voice boomed around her, rocking her headache around her skull like a damn

pinball machine.

"This was the best course of action to take.” A woman's voice said calmly. Lily strained to listen, but

her consciousness forbade her. As the voices faded from around her. She floated amongst the void.

Why would Damion do this to her? It would piss Jayce off when he finds out.

Stop saying his name.

The voice hissed at her. She felt the pressure intensify. She went to scream, but her voice wouldn't

come.

You belong to me.

The pain became unbearable. She thought her head would explode. A cold chill slithered up her

ankles, running up her calves and over her knees. She wanted to shake them off, but they continued

their travel up her thighs until they closed in on her sex. She felt the pressure there next.

Get out!

Remember who's in charge here.

Pain erupted between her thighs and she let out a noiseless scream. It was an uncomfortable

feeling, one she recognized immediately.

Jayce.

She screamed for him, and though her voice wouldn't come, she felt heat burn into her neck. The

heat flowed through her body, overtaking the pain between her legs and filled her head. The

pressure faded away instantly and Lily was able to finally be at ease.