Their forced luna novel Chapter 82
"I need a nap," I whispered. I stumbled away from the group and back into the house. I would try to lie down and figure out all this craziness. I knew what had to happen but I was terrified of it.
How was I supposed to handle all of this? One of my children could very well wipe out everything that I wanted in life unless he found his mate, and I had another missing.
No, not missing. She had been taken, kidnapped and handed over as a bounty. What had the demons been given to give her up so easily? They could have used her as leverage against us.
They'd taken her to Rigar. I clenched my eyes shut and leaned against the hallway's wall. Just thinking his name sent a rush of panic through every nerve in my body. I had to face him, but the very thought of it made me feel I was walking on pins and needles. One wrong step or move and he'd have me in his grip again. I wouldn't be able to endure it.
That man had taken so much away from me. How much more would he carve from my heart? I put a hand against my chest and opened my eyes and stared straight into Raul's.
"Luna, are you okay?"
With burning cheeks I turned to the side. "Sorry I didn't see you there."
"I followed you into the house. You looked upset."
Upset? That wasn't even close to the turmoil that roiled through me. "I'm just being selfish. Let me get a nap I'll feel better."
Raul shrugged. "Then I'll stay by your side while you sleep."
I frowned and glanced at him. "Shouldn't you be out there hunting for Clara?"
"We know where she is, right now we're talking to the Prime about training. I'm the one in charge of guarding you. The last time you were left alone that fanatic Aren had hold of you. I promise, you can get some rest now. Nothing will hurt you."
"Shouldn't someone help the other women?" I suggested but I couldn't fight back a long yawn. Reconnecting with Bo had worn me out more than I ever wanted to admit. "They don't know anything about this pack and we brought them into this blood bath."
"They'll be fine. One of the others will handle that, likely that Javier person. You need rest. Your eyes are baggy."
I frowned at him. "If I sleep will you stop nagging me?"
"Depends," Raul conceded with a little shrug. "Take the nap first and we'll see."
Hellhounds were far too stubborn. I shook my head at him then led the way to my room. I pointed to a chair set up for not so innocent purposes but it would work in this situation. "Sit there then. I'll take a nap."
"A smart choice." he agreed. He didn't waste time in folding his long limbs onto the seat. He more perched on the edge of it than sat back. "Rest."
I pulled the sheets back and slipped into the cool bed. It was faint but it still had the traces of what I had done with my mates from not that long ago pressed into it. "Raul?"
He glanced over at me his dark eyes almost hypnotizing. "Yes?"
"You guys agreed to help Zale so quickly. Why were you with Aren in the first place? He didn't look like he was treating you all that well."
"He wasn't. We were mere pets to him, but we'd thought our master was dead. We were told that Zale did not survive. Besides, Aren let us give in to more violent tendencies that his father absolutely refused."
I shivered. I remembered how Aren had bragged about that. "But the things you guys did... they went beyond just 'violent' you ripped some of those catgirls apart."
"Not me directly," Raul corrected me. "And now that we have our Prime back there will be no worry of us slipping into those kind of habits."
I yawned again. My eyes were heavy and though it was faint I almost could swear I heard a voice telling me to sleep. It echoed through my mind dragging me deeper and deeper down. "Where did hellhounds come from?" I mumbled.
Raul chuckled and leaned over. His fingertips brushed from my forehead and over my eyes and stopped at my lips. He repeated the motion until my eyes stayed firmly shut. "We were created to be the servants of the Prime and his Kingdom."
"Teniv," I agreed. "Did that other one get corrupted?"
"Yes," Raul replied simply. His fingers resumed to petting me in that weird way again. "Sleep, Luna. We are preparing for war. You understand that, correct? The demons are of no consequence to us, but the wizards from the south carry a lot more danger."
"You guys ripped apart Aren and he was a wizard."
"There's a difference," he muttered. "We will have to decide which of the hounds will stay here."
"Stay here?" I tried to open my eyes but they were like he'd attached weights to them. I couldn't get them open. The darkness of sleep tugged at me trying to drag me down into its depths.
"Someone has to guard this Kingdom. We can't trust the demons to not attack while the main force is gone."
"I'm going," I whispered sleep slurring my words. "I have to. Clara is my daughter."
"I'll go too then. I'll stay at your side, Luna. I'll keep you safe."
The sleepiness faded as I snorted. "No one is safe from Rigar. Just promise me one thing?" I whispered. I reached out and took his hand.
Raul gently brushed his lips against my knuckle. "What is it, Amanda?"
I took a deep breath to strengthen my resolve. I doubted this man would listen to me anyway, but I had to try.
"If Rigar gets hold of me again, will you please kill me?"
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