The Nightmare (The Mist #2) - Regine Abel Page 0,26

to stalk those Nightmares who threaten humans. Cross over and become humanity’s champion.

Chapter 7

Zain

My head spun. Of all the things my woman could have said, I never saw that one coming. My mind raced, cycling through the events of the past few hours. All the signs had been there. I’d known from the start that they wanted something from me, but this?!

I pulled away from her touch and slowly glided around the oval shape of the clearing. The intense gaze of my Naima weighed on me. As much as I loved her attention, I felt grateful for her silence while I sorted out my thoughts. Too many of them were simultaneously firing inside my head.

I had already intended to cross over. Despite my careful planning, as a newborn in that world, I would be vulnerable, exposed, without a penny to my name. I’d observed so many Transients die during their transformation due to their poor choice of location for their mortal birth, getting devoured mid-shift by Beasts or other Walkers. I’d heard tales of others dying of exposure, starvation, or insufficient energy to sustain them until they could bind their creator.

With her blessing to cross over, I wouldn’t have to deal with any of these non-negligible inconveniences. Better yet, I wouldn’t have to change who I was. I could still hunt and dominate lesser Walkers. Those Nightmares would be the ultimate prey. A true challenge at last. There was nothing more boring than hunting a Spark. In spite of the crazy abilities their creators gave them, Beasts were usually too stupid to use them in a truly terrifying and tactical way. Sentient beings were the most fun quarry, especially Nightmares. Unlike Wishes, who were usually sweet and peaceful, Nightmares and Dark Desires were predators. I already relished the sound of their cries of agony, the scent of their fear, and the taste of their ethereal essence as I gorged on their lifeforce.

As an added bonus, in the Mortal Plane, I could amass an endless amount of power… with the humans’ blessing… and with my creator to anchor me.

My Naima… I could finally bind her to me and claim her as my true mate.

But what if it’s a trap?

Based on my observation of other Transients, it took hours for the human shell to form, hours during which they were completely vulnerable. If she or that shadow organization wanted to permanently kill me, I would be helpless to defend myself. Assuming I made it through that phase, after my birth, I would have lost at least a third of my current power—maybe even a bit more. I could be easily controlled or coerced.

Yet, even as those thoughts crossed my mind, I dismissed such deception from my mate. That did not mean that the Thomson male wasn’t using her to get to me and others like me.

I glided back to my Naima. She stared at me expectantly. Although she attempted to look nonchalant, I could feel the tension bubbling inside of her, and her strong desire for me to say yes. That did strange but wonderful things to me. Who would have thought that being wanted could be more intoxicating than being feared?

It was my turn to cup her face with both hands as I pillaged the memories of her interactions with Thomson. Even though she disliked the intrusion, my bride didn’t balk. Then again, I could see from her memories that Thomson had warned her that hiding anything from me in the Mist would be futile.

Unfortunately, the information I thus gathered only confirmed what Naima had said, and her genuine desire that I accept. But it didn’t validate Thomson’s honesty. When I had branded her, then demanded Thomson open the door to set me free, his concern for my woman had been genuine. But had it been out of worry for her welfare or for the bait he intended to lure me with?

It stung that Naima wanted me for what I could do for them, but not for what we could be together. No matter, I would make her love me. Deep down, she already did. I would simply make sure she acknowledged it. My bride had given me a taste of what it felt like to be wanted by her, and I was already addicted.

“Tell me, Naima,” I said in a sensual voice, my hands slipping down her cheeks in a gentle caress, along the gentle curve of her shoulders, then down her slender back. “Are you my reward for dispatching