Bound by the Mist (Mists of Eria) Read Free

escaped her. She kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto the lumpy mattress in a seated position. The impact knocked her book bag off the edge of the bed, and she winced when it hit the floor with a thud. Oh well, she’d pick it up later.
    Hours of coursework awaited her, but sweet oblivion was what she desired. In the corner of the room, her glossy acoustic guitar glowered at her. In the past, practicing the instrument had soothed her, but she couldn’t muster the drive anymore. She hardly felt like herself, awake or in sleep. Either way, she seemed to be lost in dreams.
    Cal grimaced. Surely she was only restless and tired, her sleep not being what it should. Too bad the excuse rang hollow.
    Strange dreams and visions, ones she couldn’t quite remember when she awoke, had lately overtaken her nights. Only snippets remained, but the common theme always featured a man. No, that wasn’t right. She labeled the male an elf for some reason.
    Maybe because of the lilting language he spoke, and oh yes, the pointed ears. Flowing black hair and stormy gray eyes seemed permanently branded into her psyche. That was all she could recollect of him when dreams faded.
    Pressing a hand to her still aching forehead, she bent over to retrieve her bag and froze. The floor underneath the bag, underneath her feet, rippled and swelled into a mass of waves.
    She jerked her legs up on the bed, her heart plummeting. As she whimpered, her gaze stayed fixated on the floor.
    A glittering mist formed on the ground, overtaking the strange ripples and leaving her blind while it crept over the bed. She yelped and scrambled for the covers. Her fingers, shaking so badly they hardly functioned, pulled frantically at the comforter and sheets. Desperation lent strength to her hands, and she managed to fling the covers over her head. Not even for escape would she get off the bed.
    Her blood tried to pound itself out of her veins, and her body shook uncontrollably. Inside the cocoon of her blankets, there was nothing but the darkness. She focused on her breath, the rasp of it as rose and fell. What would the fog do now? Would it take—
    She shook her head. No, there was nothing out there. Pretend the mist didn’t exist, and it wouldn’t. Denial was easier and less painful. It had always meant no pills or pitying glances.
    How long she stayed huddled under the covers, she couldn’t guess. Her thoughts turned to mush, fatigue and reality melding together in some kind of bizarre dance. Her bone-deep exhaustion finally took over, and sleep crept over her.
    Even in sleep, her chaotic mind retained a disjointed awareness. Images of black hair and eyes the color of an angry sea flowed through her mind. Nothing else of his appearance was important. Then the scene changed, and she appeared beside him. Acutely aware of his body inches away from hers, she shivered at the heat between them.
    Reaching out, he pulled her to him with a familiarity that settled deep into her bones. His touch burned through her like lightning as the callouses of his fingers left a lingering thrill of sensation on her skin. He lowered his head and covered her mouth with his. The taste of mint hit her tongue. She groaned and deepened the kiss, wanting to crawl into his very being.
    The scene skipped forward. A bed appeared and bumped into the back of her knees as he pressed her down. Desire hummed though her at the feel of his body, of silk and muscle, bare against hers. Her hands roamed over him, and he moaned, the rasp of his breath in her ear. Settling over her, he joined their bodies, and hair of auburn and black lay fanned across the pillow.
    With that last image, she shot up in bed, her breath rapid. Her mind spiraled into chaos as shudders racked her. The dream seemed so real. She could still feel his hands on her body, her skin tingling from that ghostly touch. Cal frowned as she pushed herself into a seated position against the headboard. Was she forgetting something