Libera Me Read Free Page B

and I pull her into my arms.
    “What if I’m really not your Nesy?”
    “It’s okay. I’ll all be okay.”
    We sit for a moment, locked in our embrace. Scared to move forward. Scared of the truth. I think about the necklace burning a hole in my pocket.  Maybe it will help her with a breakthrough.
    Or maybe it will drive her further away from us.
    What to do?
What to do?
    My pulse rushes as we leave the restaurant. We walk to the bike, Nesy a step ahead of me, quiet.
    I catch her hand and pull be back to me. “Vanessa,” I whisper in her ear, unwilling to call her Nesy until she’s ready. “I have something for you.”
    She turns to face me, leaning against the bike. I pull the necklace from my pocket. The angel-wing charm dangles in front of her and I study her reaction, again searching for some sort of remembrance. Still nothing.
    No recognition in her eyes.
    No curiosity on her face.
    Just a smile as she meets my gaze.
    “It’s beautiful, Aydan. Thank you.”
    I reach around her, fitting the clasp around her neck. Again the scents of vanilla and smoke invade my senses, causing a shiver to run down my spine.
    “The minute I saw it I knew it could only belong to you.”
    Not exactly a lie.
    “I love it,” she breathes into my neck as she closes any distance between us. “Thank you.”
    Her lips are against mine for a moment before she realizes what she’s doing and pulls away.
    The distance is too much. I scoop her into an embrace, still resisting the urge to push things further. “Your memories will come back, Vanessa. I know they will.”
    I gently kiss her once more before I can stop. She stiffens in response. Kisses me in return.
    Our kiss deepens and I tremble. I want to lose myself to her. But I can’t. She isn’t ready. I know she isn’t.
    “Soon,” I say, my voice quivering. I pull away and my body objects. “When your memories return.”
    “You’re right.” Her voice is wispy, breathless. She looks away and takes a deep breath. “ If they return,” she whispers to the night air.
    The words scream through me. I turn her face back to mine. “I love you. No matter what.”
    A storm gathers in her expression. She grabs for the charm, delicately fingering it. “I should get home.”
    “Okay.” I take a step back as she climbs on the bike.
    The scent of smoke and ash grows thick, filling my senses. Something stirs deep inside. Fear, and something else.
    Something more.
    Nessa’s eyes widen with fright.
— What’s wrong?
    Angry screams split the night sky.
— I need to fight .
    And I fall to my knees.
— You will pay .
    “Run,” I yell to Nessa.
    My vision blurs as a fist connects with my jaw. I collide with the hard asphalt, my legs and arms scraping open. Two men drag me into the alley behind the restaurant and bind my hands behind me, nearly releasing my arms from their sockets. The pain streaks across my vision as my strangled scream dies in my throat.
    Nessa tries to run, but not before two more men grab her, yanking her into the alley as well. My insides ignite as they hit her, cracking her lip open.
    “Get off her,” I snarl. I pull against my captors’ hold. But it’s no use, I can’t get free. “You’re dead,” I growl to the man holding me. “You are dead.”
    The vengeance is bitter on my tongue. I mean every word I’ve said. I will kill these attackers if I ever get free.
    Nessa’s screams fuel my thoughts of revenge as I watch her squirm against the men. One grabs her hair, forcing her down.
    “No!” I yell, understanding their intent.  A sharp thud collides with my head and my vision fades to black.
    Screams, Nesy’s and the attackers, fill my thoughts as my mind closes in on itself.
     
     

 
    Chapter 4 – Defend

     
    Zane
    Aydan’s anger clings to my thoughts. He’s in trouble. And so is Nesy. I forge a portal without thinking, my mind only focused on getting to her in time.
    “Wait,” Cass says, reappearing next to me. “What are you doing?