Nightmares

Leander "No!" Hycinth's scream pierced the darkness. Instantly awake, every particle in my body felt like it had been lit on fire. "What is it, love? What's wrong?" Little fists pummeled my chest. Her frail body thrashed in the bed next to me. "Don't touch me!" Still snared by unconsciousness, it was clear the battle was in her mind. Primal instinct drove me forward. I had no intention of letting her fight this adversary alone. Without thought, I blew our partial mate bond. wide open and delved into her subconscious. For a moment, I was disoriented by the chaos in her head. Stark fear swirled amidst nightmare images-darkness stained with slashes of red, so much blood. No concern for her own welfare, but desperately fighting for the precious innocent she carried in her belly. "It's okay, you're safe!" I whispered urgently while trying to contain her flailing limbs without hurting her. Torment all-consuming, she couldn't hear me. Continuing to fight her imaginary foe, she violently wrest