discounted it as more of his sexual teasing, except she noticed the flick of his glance between her path and those of others in the store. She disappeared into the fitting area but then, thinking about it, came back out. Niall was leaning against the wall, waiting on her.
“Problem?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Am I in any danger here? Or are you are worried about me doing something I shouldn’t?”
“You’re not capable of doing something you shouldnae.” The corner of his mouth quirked. “Just best for me to keep ye in sight. We want to keep ye safe, muirnín.”
She thought of last night, of how they’d showed their understanding of the demons she fought. Niall knew he couldn’t protect her from those fears, but with his steady tawny gaze and the weight he gave to the last words, he was telling her he’d protect her from everything he could.
She’d been Stephen’s possession. Any protection he’d offered her had been about that, not about her. On its face, it sounded the same. But Stephen had never given thought to her safety, just her preservation for his needs. She’d understood that, accepted it. Even so, she had a perverse desire to put her arms around Niall and squeeze him as tightly as her heart was being squeezed.
Hastily, she withdrew before she embarrassed herself.
There were several women in the dressing area. She could hear the rustle of clothing being removed or adjusted. One had a friend with her, because they were comfortably chatting behind the louver doors. Sliding into an empty stall with pale pink walls and a velvet bench, she hung up the dresses and pulled off her top, toeing off her shoes to remove her jeans.
Since it was her first choice, she tried on the paint splash dress first. Though it fit, she could see where she could make it better, altering the upper body fit with her seamstress skills so the off-the-rack dress was more suited to her figure and more pleasing to her Master and Niall. When she was done, Niall wouldn’t miss the leopard-print dress.
Executing a spin, she confirmed the expansive hem flowed the way she’d expected. She’d need some accessories, but department stores were always having discount sales on such items. She’d find something suitable that would minimize the time Niall had to endure female shopping. The thought gave her a small smile. She’d smiled more these past few days than she had in thirteen years.
The cramp hit her so abruptly her forehead hit the mirror when she doubled over, cracking it. Putting the heel of her hand there in reflex, she crouched, counting her way through it. Breathe, breathe. When she’d been in the grip of such full-blown spasms, Debra had taught her ways to manage the pain. It didn’t stop them, but it gave her a focus until it passed. Only it hadn’t ever passed. Not until Brian figured out those injections.
The headache exploded, a battering ram against her brain. It was the symptom that indicated Stephen was back inside her mind. He could reach down into her soul, twist it . . .
She’d never resisted his invasions, never thought about having the strength to resist his ability to scramble or plumb her mind. Her lack of resistance was her penance for betrayal. Now, though, battling to think through the pain, she thought if she could stay clear, hold the line long enough between them, Daegan would get a better grip on where he was.
Evan had forbidden her to do that. No, he’d forbidden her to not take the injections. She’d forgotten purely by accident, so this was different.
Women rationalize . . . She choked on a despairing sob. She was remembering his voice, not hearing it, because he would not be strong enough to override Stephen’s roar.
Think about shopping, the to-do list . . . But that would tell Stephen exactly where she was. She couldn’t endanger Evan and Niall. He would kill them for sheltering her.
She was his possession. Not to keep safe, but to destroy.
She should have told Niall to take her back. She’d made a fatal error. The next cramp knocked her to the floor. She was gripping her head, certain her skull was about to split.
“Help . . . Niall.”
He was already there. She’d woken Evan, she was certain. The wave of shame came with nausea. Niall held her as she jacked up from the floor, threw up into her own lap, into the beautiful silk skirt of the