The Hollow by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online Page A

entire trees. He dove again, calling for Layla with his mind.
    When he saw her, he plunged deeper.
    Once again their eyes met, once again she reached for him.
    She embraced him. Her mouth took his in a kiss that was as cold as the water. And she dragged him down to drown.
    HE WOKE GASPING FOR AIR, HIS THROAT RAW AND burning. His chest pounded with pain as he fumbled for the light, as he shoved up and over to sit on the side of the bed and catch his laboring breath.
    Not in the woods, not in the pond, he told himself, but in his own bed, in his own apartment. As he pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes he reminded himself he should be used to the nightmares. He and Cal and Gage had been plagued by them every seven years since they’d turned ten. He should be used, too, to pulling aspects of the dream back with him.
    He was still chilled, his skin shivering spasmodically over frigid bones. The iron taste of the pool’s water still coated his throat. Not real, he thought. No more real than bleeding trees or fires that didn’t burn. Just another nasty jab by a demon from hell. No permanent damage.
    He rose, left the bedroom, crossed his living room, and went into the kitchen. He pulled a cold bottle of water out of the fridge and drank half of it down as he stood.
    When the phone rang, he felt a fresh spurt of alarm. Layla’s number was displayed on the caller ID. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œYou’re okay.” Her breath came out in a long, jerky whoosh. “You’re okay.”
    â€œWhy wouldn’t I be?”
    â€œI . . . God, it’s three in the morning. I’m sorry. Panic attack. I woke you up. Sorry.”
    â€œYou didn’t wake me up. Why wouldn’t I be okay, Layla?”
    â€œIt was just a dream. I shouldn’t have called you.”
    â€œWe were at Hester’s Pool.”
    There was a moment of silence. “I killed you.”
    â€œAs attorney for the defense, I have to advise that’s going to be a hard case to prosecute, as the victim is currently alive and well and standing in his own kitchen.”
    â€œFox—”
    â€œIt was a dream. A bad one, but still a dream. He’s playing on your weakness, Layla.” And mine, Fox realized, because I want to save the girl. “I can come over. We’ll—”
    â€œNo, no, I feel stupid enough calling you. It was just so real, you know?”
    â€œYeah, I do.”
    â€œI didn’t think, I just grabbed the phone. All right, calmer now. We’ll need to talk about this tomorrow.”
    â€œWe will. Try to get some sleep.”
    â€œYou, too. And Fox, I’m glad I didn’t drown you in Hester’s Pool.”
    â€œI’m pretty happy about that myself. Good night.”
    Fox carried the bottle of water back to the bedroom. There, he stood looking out the window that faced the street. The Hollow was quiet, and still as a photograph. Nothing stirred. The people he loved, the people he knew, were safe in their beds.
    But he stood there, watchful in the dark, and thought about a kiss that had been cold as the grave. And still seductive.
    "CAN YOU REMEMBER ANY OTHER DETAILS?” CYBIL wrote notes on Layla’s dream as Layla finished off her coffee.
    â€œI think I gave you everything.”
    â€œOkay.” Cybil leaned back in the kitchen chair, tapped her pencil. “The way it sounds, you and Fox had the same dream. It’ll be interesting to see if they were exact, or how the details vary.”
    â€œInteresting.”
    â€œAnd informative. You could’ve woke me, Layla. We all know what it’s like to have these nightmares.”
    â€œI felt steadier after I’d spoken to Fox, and he wasn’t dead.” She managed a small smile. “Plus, I don’t need to be shrink-wrapped to figure out that part of the dream was rooted in what we talked about last night. My fear of hurting one of you.”
    â€œEspecially