Kneus: A Terraneu Novel (Book Four) by Stormy McKnight Read Free Book Online Page B

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    “I don’t think...” Kneus began to say.
    Gwen decided to take off the kid gloves. “If you don’t talk to me Kneus,
I will ask for a joint council meeting to discuss your mental health.” Ignoring
the look of outrage that he gave her Gwen continued, “I know that everyone is
concerned about you, and would listen if I called for a meeting.” The look of
outrage shifted to hurt and Gwen almost gave up this avenue of reaching him,
but she was determined to get Kneus to admit he needed help.
    “Please don’t make me go that far Kneus. Tell me what is going on so I
can help you.” She gently placed her hand on his, hoping he wouldn’t pull away.
When he just sat there she gave his fingers a gentle squeeze.
    He stared at her hand on his for what felt like forever when his eyes
finally met hers she saw the pain he had been holding back. It stabbed at her
heart to see he was in such misery.
    “I will confide in you Gwen but only if you promise you will not tell
either council what we discuss.” Kneus’ voice came out rough with emotion.
    “I promise I won’t tell anyone.” Gwen hurried to agree to his condition
for fear he would change his mind.
    He sat back into a console chair and pursed his lips. Gwen’s eyes stayed
on them. How many times had she wondered how soft they would feel against hers?
How would they feel moving against her skin? Would they be hot and smooth?
Shaking her head against those thoughts she waited for him to talk.
      “I have been experiencing
nightmares. They stared after the attack on Antilles. It is usually the same
theme:   Kniam, Knollig, Knaleg and I are
running from some peril. Sometimes we are on Earth, sometimes we are here on
Terraneu. There is always a feeling of imminent danger during the nightmare and
when I am close to discovering the origins of the problem the landscape shifts.
Then I feel cold...no not just cold, I feel icy . There is no light, all
around me is complete blackness. Then I hear the warning words Catherine said
the mystery soldier gave. “We are coming.” Once Kneus started talking it poured
out of him like venom being drawn from a wound. “The voice is so evil I get
chills, the hatred and anger pour over me until I feel like I am drowning in
it.” Kneus paused to run his hands through his hair and Gwen could see they
shook slightly. “When I am able to wake up, I am covered in sweat and feel like
I have been tossing and turning all night long and my muscles ache.”
    Gwen was in shock. Knowing something was wrong is not the same as hearing
all the details. She tried to gain her composure and quickly asked, “How often
do you have the nightmares?” She tried to make her voice sound clinical, Kneus
needed her to be professional and helpful, not weepy and pathetic.
    He paused in thought for a second, “At first they were every few days.
They have increased in frequency over the past weeks and now they are almost
every night.”
    “You say the nightmares started after the attack on Antilles?” Gwen was
almost hopeful when she asked, “I know that we have been working hard on
finding answers in the archives. Is it possible that stress is causing your...”
she didn’t finish because he was already shaking his head.
    “No. I don’t think it is stress that is causing the nightmares.” Kneus
insisted. “I have been through much more stressful situations than this.”
    Gwen sat for as second in thought then she told Kneus, “There is only one
thing I can think of to help you. We have to start with a complete medical
exam.”

Chapter Eleven
    Kneus couldn’t believe how talking with Gwen about the nightmares had
lifted such a huge weight off his shoulders. He didn’t know why he felt
comfortable with his decision to confide in her, but it just felt right
somehow. She was a medical professional and had an analytical mind like he did.
He knew that if anyone could put reason into the chaos he had fallen into it
would be Gwen.
    “We will run