Chapter 167

“They don’t know who you are yet, and I’ll do everything I can to protect you,” Nurse Irene said through the phone. “But you have to be extra careful.”

Overwhelming fear stirred within me, spreading outwards until my entire body trembled.

Nurse Irene continued on. “The official researchers have eyes and ears everything. Don’t use your ability anymore, not even to practice. At least not until everything has blown over.”

Panic clawed at my throat. I couldn’t speak.

“You will still have to come in and see me for the appointments we made. I would look suspicious if we canceled.”

I nodded against the phone, remembering after too long a moment that she couldn’t see me.

I searched for my voice and dragged it forward. “Okay.”

“Manage your stress level. Remember those exercises I taught you.”

“Okay,” I said again, as my stress level skyrocketed.

“Be careful,” Nurse Irene said and hung up.

I kept the phone at my ear even after she was gone. It took great effort for me to lower it.

I wanted to beg her to tell me she was just joking, or she was mistaken. But Nurse Irene wouldn’t joke about this, and she likely wouldn’t worry me if she had any doubts in what she was saying.

Somehow, the official researchers had heard rumors of me. I was in serious danger.

What could I do? Where could I go? I wanted to crawl into my bed, but they would come here to look for me first. They’d find me cowering, alone, and take me.

Would they tell anyone where I’d gone? Or would everyone be left to wonder if I simply dropped out or skipped town?

What would Asher think? Would he look for me? And if he discovered where I was, would he try to free me, like he had promised so many days ago?

My heart thundered in my chest, beating against my ribcage like drum. I needed to calm down.

Manage your stress level.

How was I supposed to do that?

I wanted to run and hide. Lilith circled unhappily in the corners of my mind, ready to fight if it came to that.

If the official researchers caught me, if they sent me to the research facility, they would take away my baby.

“I won’t allow them,” Lilith growled in my mind, but since we were one, I felt her fear as surely as my own. If the time came for them to steal my child, how would we stop them?

I paced the length of my room like a caged animal. I needed to talk to someone. Hide somewhere.

But who? Where?

I could be placing whoever I sought out into danger. That ruled out Aimee and Nicole.

My body and heart knew who they wanted, but my mind wouldn’t allow it.

“We need our mate,” whispered Lilith.

I shook my head. I couldn’t go to Asher. We broke up. He had no reason to help me.

He would anyway. I knew that. But that didn’t mean I could just barge in on his life.

Hadn’t he suffered through my drama for long enough? And this time, he could get in serious trouble, not just with the school, but with our entire nation.

No, it wouldn’t come to that. Not yet. The researchers didn’t know my identity, and Irene was working to protect me. I was still safe for now.

What I needed wasn’t sanctuary, but comfort.

I needed help calming down. I wouldn’t be able to do it on my own.

But where would I feel safe?

I left my room, and, moving as quickly as I could without straining myself, my feet carried me to the athletes’ dorm without me even having to think about it.

I stopped just outside of it and stared up at the multistory building. It was after dark. Most of the windows were lit up from within.

I didn’t know which windows belonged to Asher’s room. I could have figured it out if I allowed myself, if I counted and focused. But I didn’t. If I knew he was there, I would seek him out.

I wanted him so strongly, my fingers ached to touch him.

Shaking the thoughts away, I focused on Lamar. He was my boyfriend now. He could give me the comfort I needed.

I waited at the elevator. Inside, I tried to do some of the breathing exercises Nurse Irene had taught me. They only helped so much.

At Lamar’s door, I frantically knocked. I kept knocking until he swung it open.

Confusion curved his brow. “Cynthia? I thought you were studying tonight?”

I wanted to tell him everything, but under the circumstances, I couldn’t tell him anything. Both because it was a secret, and also because I couldn’t speak.

“I need…” I inhaled. Paused. Exhaled. “I’m scared.”

Lamar stuck his head out into the hallway and looked to the left and right. There was no one there.

He looked back at me. “Of what?”

I shook my head, hoping he would understand.

Leaning against the doorframe, he rubbed a hand along his jawline. “You aren’t giving me much to go on, Cynthia.”

“Comfort,” I said. “I need… comfort.”

“Oh.” He pushed off the frame. “Comfort food, I can deliver. How about some ice cream? The place down the street stays open late. It’s small and personal. I think you’ll like it.”

Ice cream? I wasn’t hungry. I didn’t really want to go out.

I wanted Asher to hold me until I felt safe.

Behind Lamar, a glowing apparition began to form. Panic struck through me like lightning, and I cut the threads of the projection before it could fully form.

“Ice cream.” I nodded.

It would be fine. Comfort food could work. At the very least, it would be distracting.

At this point, I was willing to try anything to help me feel better.

“Okay.” Smile growing, Lamar snatched his coat off a hanger behind the door, then met me in the hallway.

We took the elevator to the first floor. As we exited into the hallway, Asher was walking in through the front door.

Seeing him, I nearly turned around to go back into the elevator, but I bumped into Lamar instead, who lifted a curious brow at me.

Ice cream. Comfort food. Lamar.

I could do this. I just had to walk by Asher. Maybe he wouldn’t even notice –

“Cynthia?” Asher stopped me in the hallway. Directly in front of me, he peered down at me, concern swirling in his ocean eyes. “What’s the matter? Are you okay?”

I was embarrassed. He only ever seemed to find me in my worst moments. But more than shame, I felt a sudden burst of comfort from his presence.

My mate. He’ll protect me.

My thoughts were turning feral. Fear had brought Lilith close to the surface.

I inched closer to Asher. He immediately wrapped an arm around me, tucking me closer to his side.

“Breathe,” he whispered into my ear. “You are safe now.”

Unintentionally, a sob cracked from the back my throat.

How much I needed him!

Mate. Safe. Home.

“Hey,” Lamar said. “What are you doing?”

A growl sounded in the hallway. It was deep and angry. It should have been frightening with its ferocity, but I was not afraid of it. I would never be afraid of Asher.

Asher’s eyes frosted into twin hailstorms as he glared openly at Lamar.

Wolf snapping in his words, Asher demanded, “What did you do to her?”