The Royal Contract

Chapter 577: In the dark pit

Something was definitely moving behind her. She could feel the cushion of the bed shifting under her. Then, a light touch on her shoulders, followed by mild massaged on her tightened muscle, made her moan in satisfaction.

“That feels so good.” She finally spoke, loving his caress on her body. She could see herself floating among the clouds, enjoying the moment.

She felt his hands swipe her hair to the side, exposing her neck to his view. While she continued to close her eyes, reveling in the sensation his fingers created on her skin as it pressed on her flesh, untangling the tension on her nerves.

He continued to let his hands roam her back, letting his fingers do their magic. However, she felt that there was something off about him. She suddenly became alarmed.

His hands were different. It was softer. It was as if it had not done anything laborious in his life. It did not resemble her husband’s hand, who was slightly rough.

She reminded herself to ask him about that. He did promise that he would tell her why he had rough hands. It was not full of callous, but it had a few once in a while.

Then, he leaned forward and finally spoke to her. “You are mine.” She knew who it was. He was not Alex. She quickly opened her eyes and screamed.

.....

“Don’t touch me.” She told him, moving her hands, warding off the unwanted man on her bed. She did not want him near her or touching her.

She could not understand why she was going through this again. She believed she had gotten away from the horrible nightmare. But here she was again, caught in the middle.

“Get away from me.” She continued to shout, getting away from the hands that gave her the sudden chill.

She quickly moved on the corner of the bed, clutching the sheet around her as she avoided his touch. She could clearly picture him in her mind as her eyes remained sealed shut.

She felt a sudden movement beside her, coming closer, and it frightened her even more. She flayed her hands at the first contact of a hand on her skin. Fighting off her assailant.

“Dani, wake up!” A man’s voice penetrated into her consciousness. But her fear still overpowered her reason, unable to distinguish reality versus the illusion entrapping her in the dream.

“I will kill you if you come any closer.” She threatened the man who tried to touch her face. Her eyes remained closed as she relived the horror of her dream.

She swiped his hands away, scooting further into the headboard, hugging her knees tighter around her in a protective stance.

“Please, don’t hurt Alex.” She pleaded as tears rushed down her face.

She wished it was a dream, but she was afraid to open her eyes only to realize that this was real. Her mind immediately imagined her husband, tied and beaten up.

“Hey, it is just a dream.” He came closer but took caution not to make sudden movements. He did not want to scare her any further. “It is me, Alex.”

He was awoken by her sudden scream. He assumed that something had happened to her. He quickly opened his eyes and checked on her.

He immediately saw her on the far side of the bed, sobbing, her body trembling, seemingly in fear. He thought that there must be an intruder in their room, scanning his surrounding.

However, he did not see anyone else. The room remained dimmed by the low light coming from the windows. No other sound could be heard around them except her sobs.

“Come on, darling, open your eyes.” He encouraged her in his soft tone as he came closer to her, realizing that she must be having a nightmare.

It had been a long time since she was in this same condition. She had stopped having her terrible dreams when they started building their relationship.

He believed the constant reassurance of his love had healed her and drove her away from the nightmares. However, he understood that they had a recent traumatic experience.

He might be carrying the situation better, but sometimes he also had dreams about it. He still recalled the fear that gripped him every time he thought that Dani was in danger.

“I am here. No one is going to hurt you.” He kept saying as he leaned closer without touching her.

Letting his presence and his voice calm her down. This time, he set aside his own fears, knowing that Dani needed him to be strong for the two of them.

Finally, she opened her eyes, hearing his soothing words, waking her up from the horrible images that plague her mind. Her blurry eyes could not see him clearly, but her heart finally recognized it was him. The man that she trusted with her life.

“I am sorry.” She uttered in her confused state. Still recovering from the recent event.

She started wiping the tears that flooded her face, imagining what she probably looked like, realizing that she just had a nightmare.

She could still recall most of it, but she quickly buried it in her mind, not wanting to relive the horrible scenes. She focused her eyes on the man that sat beside her, enveloping her in his arms.

“Are you alright?” He asked as he ran his hands on her shoulders, down her arms, trying to calm her still trembling body.

He could guess what was on her mind, but he would not press for her to tell him unless she willingly wanted to share it with him. But he would wait until she was ready.

“Yeah!” She shrugged her shoulders, shaking off the horrible feeling. “It was just a dream.” She dismissed it. “I am sure that I will get over this just like before.”

She showed him a weak smile, assuring him that she would be fine. She honestly believed, just like before, she would eventually get over this.

“Well, if you want someone to talk to. I am here.” He offered as he pulled her again tighter in his arms.

He could not imagine losing her. If the only way to protect her was to deal with the problem, then he would do his best to speed up the process of eliminating the cause of all her misery.

“I know.” She answered him, leaning closer to his body, absorbing his warmth to calm her down.

Eventually, her breathing evened out, and her heartbeat slowed down. Then, she gradually returned to sleep. So far, a dreamless one.

He watched her sleeping form, feeling his anger brewing inside of him. He could only think of one thing at the moment, and it had everything to do with her.

“I will make this nightmare go away for good.” He whispered to her. “I promise.” Swearing to the woman he vowed to love and protect as long as he was alive.

He could not stand seeing her getting hurt over and over again just because of the insaneness of one man. He would go to the end of the earth to make him pay.

As far as he was concerned, Nick belonged in the dark pit, way below the ground, surrounded with blazing fire, burning for his sins.