“Awesome. Great talk.”
I started to turn away when he wrapped his hand around the back of my neck. I froze. He was so close. If I stood up on my tip toes and he dipped his head . . .
He leaned to the side and stared at my neck for a moment before the muscles in the corners of his jaw bulged from tension. In a flash, his hand was gone, and he was striding back to the party leaving me behind like I didn’t matter at all.
My heart was racing, and I sagged against a tree to keep from falling over. His touch was the most intense few seconds of my life. It felt like something big was about to happen, then he just disappeared.
What was wrong with him?
Or was it me?
It didn’t matter. He didn’t matter. He was a jerk. I had enough to worry about with Sai and Theo to care about that arrogant, sexy, stupid asshole.
Being around people now held no appeal. One interaction and I was exhausted, emotionally and mentally. I didn't want to deal with the duel between the guys either. Hannah would probably get mad at me later, but at least she had Daniel to hang out with. I just wanted to be alone.
I snuck along the edge of the party until I saw the tower through the trees and was about to find the main path. I passed a few latecomers on their way to the danger zone. Hopefully, they would have a better time than I did.
The dorms were silent as I waited for the elevator to come. Everyone was off enjoying their Saturday night. Good for them.
I wasn’t bitter.
I wasn’t going to write a declaration that I was never going to another party.
Nope. I was just fine.
Natasha was still out, so I changed and climbed into bed. The familiar wish floated through my mind, not for the first or even hundredth time, that I had a way to block the nightmares and never have to worry about drifting into a much-needed slumber.
I lay as still as possible and went through a few meditation practices that helped me relax. By the end of my fourth round of deep breathing, I felt the tug of pleasant sleep and smiled before falling into the sensation.
When I opened my eyes, I wasn’t in my wildflower field. I looked up for my hawk but only saw trees. Everywhere. I was in the middle of a thick forest I didn’t recognize. It could be the area around the school, but I wasn’t sure.
This wasn’t right. Was something bad about to happen?
I turned around but couldn’t see anything except tree trunks, so I started running. The ground was soft, damp. There were so many scents. Too many to take in. Moss. Pine. Fir. Dirt. Something decaying.
Wait.
Why were the different smells in the earth so strong?
I stopped and looked around again. This was all off. Why was I so low? The lowest branches of the trees around me were several feet up. I could usually reach them. I glanced down and blinked.
My feet were gone.
The ankles I was so confident in were missing. Two small gray paws were in their place.
What the actual hell?
I glanced back and found a fluffy gray and white tail.
What kind of nightmare was this?
I gasped as I shot up in bed and looked around. I was in my room. Safe. I patted my chest and shoulders before throwing back the blanket to confirm that I did in fact have normal feet and no tail.
That was the strangest, most disconcerting sensation I’d ever had in one of my happy dreams. No hawk but no disaster either. Whatwasit?
I picked up my phone to check the time. It was only one in the morning. Natasha’s bed was empty. I didn’t bother sneaking into the stairwell this time.
Masie answered on the second ring. “Saige? Are you okay?”