Page 53 of The Guardian (Dark-Hunter 20)
Chapter 16
Lydia stood in her newly adopted bedroom in Maahes's impressive home, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows at one of the most beautiful views in the world. When he'd said his house was isolated, he hadn't been joking.
What he'd failed to mention was that his home was in the middle of an island he owned. She'd always loved looking out at the sea, but this ...
Wow. It reminded her a lot of Solin's home in Greece. She'd be hard-pressed to decide between them as to who had the better view.
And she would have enjoyed it a lot more if she wasn't still angry at Seth.
Bastard.
Was she really so repugnant that he couldn't even kiss her? She didn't know why she was so fixated on that, but it had stomped her hard in an ego that had never been all that much to begin with. She knew she wasn't the prettiest of women. That her overly large eyes were a freakish color. One of her past boyfriends had even made the comment that he'd broken up with her because she reminded him of a troll doll with its big spooky eyes ... Something that gave him the willies.
She wanted to kill Seth for bringing back all of this pain that she usually kept buried.
I'm not your yo-yo, buddy. She was tired of trying to guess his moods, which never made any logical sense to anyone but him.
Gah, how frustrating could one man be?
And what the hell was the thumping in his room? It'd been going on for the last few minutes, to the point that she was ready to go beat him with her shoes. Wasn't it bad enough he hurt her feelings? Was he now trying to make her insane?
But as she stood there, contemplating his murder, a weird sensation tickled the back of her mind.
Something's not right.
She couldn't explain it, but she had an overwhelming need to get to him and make sure nothing was wrong.
Of course he's okay. Really? You're freaking out over nothing.
Still, that feeling persisted. In fact, it was growing stronger by the heartbeat until it became a full panic that he was under attack and needed her.
You're so stupid. Just go check on him so that you can see what an idiot you are.
And she was, too. She had no doubt. Why else would she be worried over someone who could take care of himself?
Fine. Whatever. "I've had enough." What would the harm be? At least he wouldn't laugh at her.
He didn't know how to do that.
Furious at herself, she left her room and knocked on his door.
He didn't answer.
And still that thumping droned on.
Glaring at the wood that separated them, she used her powers to unlock and open it. But the minute she entered the room, she stopped dead as she saw him lying on his bed.
Asleep, he was in the middle of a nightmare and it appeared as if he was trying to fight someone off him. The thumping came from him hitting the wall with his arm while he flailed against whatever was in his dream.
She went to him and tried to wake him. "Seth?"
He didn't respond at all.
Her bad feeling intensified. Had something grabbed him in the unconscious realm? "Seth!" She shook him even harder.
Still, he slept on.
Lydia ducked as he almost hit her. She had to do something to wake him. Fast.
Fine, if she couldn't get him this way, she had another. Lying down beside him, she closed her eyes and used her powers to walk into his dreams.
It took a few minutes to get past her fear for him so that she could make the connection she needed. Eventually, the haze cleared and she found herself in Azmodea again.
She cringed. Why would he come here? But unfortunately, that was what people did. They either visited things that were familiar or things they wanted to see. Seth had so little experience with anything outside of the hellhole that it actually made total sense for him to be here. Where else would he go?
And he better be hurt after bringing her back here, or else he would be once she found him.
Then, they would have a nice long chat on acceptable dream locations for future unconscious traveling.
With white gossamer wings, she flew over the dark landscape, trying to locate him. At first she didn't see anything in the darkness.
"Where is she?" The angry voice came from her right.
Lowering herself into the shadows, Lydia followed it to a small sinister meadow.
A mocking, masculine laugh rang out. "You hit like an arthritic three-year-old girl." That was Seth's voice.
Her heart clenched. Oh no ...
He was in trouble.
