Scarred Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance #7) - Brenda Trim Page 0,112

happening before? I’m afraid that she will suffer Evanna’s fate. I will not lose her, too.”

Evzen shook his head, his face pinched in concentration. “It mentions the occurrence and discusses the signs, but it doesn’t give reasons why. Nor does it provide cautionary tales.”

Zander placed his hands on top of his head and crossed an ankle over one knee and Gerrick could see his concern. “Och, the Goddess designs Fated Mates and I have no doubt that she has a plan for everyone. Gerrick, you cursed fate for a verra long time for what was taken from you, and rightly so. Take this second chance and embrace it. Doona you realize how lucky you are to have been blessed a second time?”

Gerrick scowled at Zander’s words. “I know exactly what I’ve been given and I love Shae with everything that I am. Just don’t expect me to sit by and watch her suffer or risk losing her.”

Shae placed her palm over his thudding heart and he met her eyes. “Gerrick, I can’t truly be yours until I’m free from the demons.” She turned her head and looked to Zander. “Liege, I want to use my connection to try and locate the lair again and I’m hoping you will help me.”

Gerrick stood so rapidly his chair fell over. Chest heaving, heart racing and eyes black with rage, he shouted, “No! You will not open that connection any further. We will find another way to locate the bastards.”

Shae hung her head for several minutes and the room fell silent. When she lifted it he saw tears shining in her eyes. “I want the idyllic life you’ve described, but I can’t have it as long as they are in my head. I’m not even free to love you, let alone have a happy life with you. It doesn’t matter what I do, they are always there insinuating their will. You have no idea what it’s like to fight for your sanity every second of every day. I can never let my guard down or they will take over and use me as a weapon. And, I’m tired, Gerrick. I want this over.”

Gerrick’s heart broke over her suffering and he fell to his knees at her feet. He gathered her hands into his and reigned in his fury over what she was being put through. He was a warrior. A male used to taking action and battling the enemy, yet he couldn’t do a fucking thing at the moment to keep the female he loved safe from the demons. There was no way to stop the bastards from entering her mind and tormenting her and it tore him up. “I’m not gonna lie, I don’t like it, but I promise, I’ll be by your side every step of the way. Tell me what I can do to help you.”

She smiled through her tears and leaned forward to kiss him. He held her to him and deepened the kiss, pouring all of his love through their bond. He broke away and pressed his forehead to hers. “You kept me grounded after that injection and I need you to do that again. The only way I know to open the link is through the serum. I have no intention of giving into Kadir, or Azazel, but I can’t do this without you,” she reassured, obviously feeling his turmoil through their bond.

Gerrick swallowed thickly and nodded, “Whatever you need,” he promised and pulled her into his lap. It was a matter of minutes before Jace came in the room and gave her another injection. Instantly, Shae was writhing in his arms. He felt how much pain was wracking her body, yet she didn’t say a word. He didn’t think he would have been able to silently bear the agony as bravely as she did and he lost the rest of his battered heart to the strong female.

Gerrick gritted his teeth and latched onto the gold thread connecting him to her. He murmured reassurances in her ear, silently begging the Goddess for her torment to end.

*****

Shae didn’t know what she’d been thinking when she insisted she open the connection again. The fight had been even more brutal this time and she would have lost if Gerrick hadn’t been there to keep her tethered. Kadir had been determined to win the war and used every tactic at his disposal. If she’d known the archdemon was able to project the sensation of razors shredding her insides she wouldn’t have suggested