Page 21 of His Winter Wonderland

She smelled just like the woman in his dreams.

Chapter Eight

Winter

How could this be happening to her?

Winter tried to tap into her Goddess of War powers. Neither her demon spirit nor her familiar was answering her call. Normally, they both raised their heads when it was time to battle. They both tried to convince her to let them take the lead.

It had been that way ever since she was created. Even as a child in the training camp, she’d had to fight with the other sides of her to keep them from rising up and forcing her to break the rules. When they did that, she was the one who suffered.

While they scurried back into their corners, she was the one who was punished, beaten, starved, and sometimes tortured. They were doing the same thing now. She needed them. Yet, they were hiding from her.

“Not hiding,” War purred. “Just… can’t rise up. I’m trying. His claws are pinning my claws down.”

The vampire had Winter by the throat, sniffing her. His long ass claw dug into the claw mark on her neck, preventing her leopard from heeding her summoning.

“Vicky,” Winter called out mentally. “You can have the reins. Help. Stop hiding.”

“Not hiding,” Vicky hissed. “It’s him. I… am weak against him.”

Even her inner demon was lying low. What the hell?

“Can’t you feel it? It’s him. The monster from our dreams. The one who weakens us.”

“How?”

“I… don’t know.” Vicky’s voice was growing faint.

Shit. What to do?

Winter could feel a panic attack coming on. This was some shit she only felt in her dreams. Why was it filtering into her reality? How was it filtering into her reality? Vicky had said this creature was the monster from her nightmares. But why did he look so much like Rhen? Why the hell was she even thinking about that right now?

Focus, Goddess!

She didn’t need any extra powers to end her attacker. She was powerful enough on her own. And whether this was truly the monster from her dreams or not didn’t matter. She was going to show whoever he was that Winter Warren was no weak bitch. She was going to end him and every vampire out there.

“Release me,” she tried to say. But it came out as more of a croak. Winter clawed at his hands that were wrapped around her throat.

“Why would I release you, when your blood is practically begging me to drink it?”

That voice! Winter froze.

“I told you,” Vicky whispered. “He’s not normal. He’s no good for us. Retreat.”

Her demon spirit never ran.

“Don’t run. Just walk, fast. Retreat. Now!”

The vampire leaned down again. This time, he licked the blood from the corner of her mouth. As a shudder wracked his body, he forced her around to face him. She was now seeing the creature of her nightmares. And he wasn’t the huge snarling monster she’d imagined him to be. He was beautiful. He was the man of her dreams. He was also her nightmare.

Confusion along with a host of other emotions swirled around her mind. She could sense the other vamps approaching them, encircling them. Their growls filled the air. Her gaze darted left. From the corners of her eyes, she could see them drawing nearer. They wanted a piece of her too.

Without raising his head, he growled loudly. The vamps ceased approaching, but they didn’t retreat. They remained where they were. Crouching low. Watching. Waiting. Probably wanting to be close so they could grab a quick bite after he was done with her. Their wishes would not come true tonight.

She would rip the fangs from all of their mouths. Just as soon as she was done with this one. Her gaze returned to her attacker. His grip on her throat hadn’t eased up. He was still sniffing her. Just like the monster in her dreams did right before he attacked. And she was standing there, motionless, afraid to move.

Just like the dream version of herself. The dread in her veins kept her from moving. The fear that she wasn’t strong enough. The fear that she wasn’t brave enough. Useless fears that had no place in the heart of a Goddess. Yet, they lurked there, in the shadows, forever pushed down, but still present.