Sundered by Shannon Mayer Read Free Book Online Page A

fighting my own tears, shocked at what I was seeing. Sebastian was usually so stoic. In four years this was perhaps the second time I’d seen him shed tears—and the first time I wasn’t entirely certain it wasn’t just a hard wind causing his eyes to water. “Go to bed, babe. I’ll stay up and watch over you two. I don’t think I could sleep anyway.”
     
    I kissed him softly on his lips, holding his head in my hands.
     
    “ I love you Bastian, more than anything.”
     
    He kissed me back and swatted me lightly on my butt as I turned to go inside.
     
    I went upstairs to bed, snuggling Nero down in with me. I listened to Sebastian pace on the porch, muttering from time to time. I didn’t sleep much either that night, my mind whirling with plans. In my head I sketched out the best place for a garden—the current spot was far too rocky—where the fence needed to be reinforced, and what we could use as weapons besides the knives we had. Dan hadn’t even left us a single weapon, though he’s said he had lots at his place.
     
    I yawned and closed my eyes, Nero snuggling in tight to me, his warmth a steady comfort, then finally drifted off to a fitful sleep.
     
     
     
     
     

7
     
     
     
    The dreams that haunted what should have been a restful sleep left me wishing I’d stayed up with Sebastian. The clerk was attacking me again, but this time I was on my own, Sebastian in a pool of blood beside me, Dan nowhere to be found, Nero barking madly, and I was pregnant. In the dream, when I realized I was with child I snapped, a mother bear’s ferocity coming from a place I never knew existed within me.
     
    The clerk never had a chance, his heart once more pierced by my kitchen blade, his eyes glazing over as death settled on him. A boom from the other side of the house and the back porch door was flung open, a wave of Nevermores pouring in. Yanking my blade out of the clerk’s chest I reached for the front door and pulled on the handle. It was locked and my hand slid over the mechanism to unlock it over and over, unable to grasp it. I screamed and turned back to the horde. They rushed me and I fought like a mad woman, protecting the child within me, blocking hands and mouths, slicing off finger and stabbing eyes. Nero barked and bit, but his little body was flung aside like a rag doll, disappearing into the maw of one of the Nevermores. The horde howled and swelled, slamming me into the ground, pinning me as they shook me.
     
    I screamed, or tried to, and a hand covered my mouth.
     
    “ You’re dreaming babe, it’s just a dream. You’re okay.” Sebastian’s deep rumble in my ear slowed my heart rate as I came fully awake. “What time is it?” I mumbled.
     
    “ What?” He lifted his hand off my mouth.
     
    “ Time?”
     
    “ It’s just after seven. Jessica’s still asleep.”
     
    I got up, still in my clothes from the day before. “I guess I should shower.”
     
    I plucked at my sweat-soaked t-shirt.
     
    “ Might as well, at some point we’re going to lose electricity, and then no more hot showers.” He kissed me on the cheek then bent and scooped up a yawning Nero. “I’m going to make breakfast for us and the little man here.” He ruffled the puppy’s hair and disappeared into the hallway.
     
    I showered, taking my time in the hot water. It was hard to imagine being without the simple parts of life, the day-to-day luxuries. It looked like we were about to embark on the camping trip from hell that wouldn’t ever end. Not really the most pleasant of thoughts for a newly-relocated city girl.
     
    Downstairs Sebastian was indeed making breakfast: waffles, eggs, bacon, hash browns, oatmeal, sausage, and French toast. Nero was munching on a sausage quite happily and I shook my head.
     
    “ Holy crap, what are you doing? Shouldn’t we be saving the food?” I asked.
     
    Sebastian flicked his head towards the hallway where the guest bedroom was. “She’s going to be hungry and,