See How She Runs (The Chronicles of Izzy #1)(44)

I made it about three feet from my door before Kennan intercepted me. He blocked the path between me and the door like an immovable mountain. Well, I had wanted to climb him earlier. Mountain climbing was good training, right?

I looked up into his face and said, “Good night Kennan," hoping that would bring an end to whatever insanity he was bringing to my doorstep.

He bent over me and kissed the top of my head, exhaling slowly. He looked like he was about to say something, but instead just muttered, “Good night." Then he moved out of my way. I looked over at him and smiled as I made my way into the room.

That night I dreamed of Kennan. Luckily, this time, we were fully clothed.





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He was sitting next to me on a porch swing. Both of us had aged at least twenty years. He looked down at me and whispered the words from his ward early that evening. Out in the yard I saw men in black suits approaching.

I started to panic and turned back to where Kennan was sitting only to find Xavier in his place. He reached his hand out to brush my cheek the way Kennan had done earlier that evening. I cringed away, not wanting to sully the memory of Kennan with the filth of Xavier. He laughed coldly. I was struck by how similar their laughs sounded. One was like a warm summer breeze while the other was the ice of winter.

I turned back to the men in the yard as they pulled Kennan away. I wanted to call out to him, but my vocal chords had been muted. Xavier pulled out a box and said he had a present for me. As I opened the box, I was pulled inside like some strange magic trick.

I looked up to see Xavier peering over the side of the box, smiling as he closed the lid, trapping me in a dark small space. I screamed and screamed, knowing no one would ever save me and I would perish in the dark alone.





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EIGHTEEN





I was shaken awake by both Ian and Kennan. They were both bent over me making my small room seem suddenly miniscule. I shot up out of bed and ran into the living room hoping to gain some space and room to breathe. I felt as though my nerves had been sanded raw. I knew deep down that it had been a dream and not a vision. My subconscious seemed to drudge up all of the fears I had repressed. I wiped at my eyes, angry that even in my sleep, Xavier was able to frighten me.

The guys came into the room and approached me like I was some sort of wounded animal. Ian seemed to be trying to avert his eyes from me, and Kennan had a heat burning in his. I realized then that I was standing in the living room wearing only a silky nighty. I had not felt like digging through my clothes that night and had just put on the first thing I found. I looked up into Kennan’s eyes and saw concern and lust warring with one another.

“Sorry, I broke the pinky promise," I said to Kennan, not knowing what else to say.

Ian snickered and Kennan grabbed a quilt from the couch and wrapped it around me. Once I was covered, it seemed that both guys were able to regain their composure.

“Are you okay, Iz?” Kennan asked, his voice laced with concern.

“It was just a nightmare. Not like a vision nightmare, just the normal kind. You didn’t see it?" I asked, wondering how he had not known what I was dreaming.

He cleared his throat before answering. “No, I thought it best for me to stay out of your dreams for a while," he said, leaving the obvious unspoken.

I blushed, knowing that my graphic imagination was what kept him from walking in my dreams with me.

“Soooooooooo, yeah, just a nightmare. I am good now. I will just go back in there. Okay? Okay," I said as I tried to make my way back to my room. Both men suddenly blocked my way. Seriously, I was beginning to think a mountain range was forming in front of my bedroom. I stopped and looked at both men quizzically.

“It is already five in the morning. You woke us up Little Bit, so you have to stay up now. Plus I am hungry, maybe you could fix me some breakfast?" Ian said as his stomach grumbled.

I rolled my eyes. “You know Kennan is a way better cook than I am, Ian. Plus that is just sexist. You should be ashamed," I said blearily, wishing I could go back to sleep for a while.

“The puppy dog eyes don’t work on him though," Ian said, making his eyes look sad.

“Newsflash bud, they don’t work on me either," I muttered as I turned toward Kennan. “Do I really have to stay awake? I am tired," I whined, trying my own puppy dog eyes out.

“Your big, sad eyes only slightly work on me, and yes, you have to stay awake. Ian and I came up with a training program for you last night, and it is best if we start soon. That way you can get in a full day’s work. You up for it, champ?" Kennan asked as he moved to put his arm around my shoulder. I looked up at him and snarled.

“I promise I will fix you breakfast, and I already made some coffee. See, I take care of you," Kennan crooned as he smiled pleadingly.

“Fine, but I am getting dressed first," I grumbled as I tried to make my way into the room almost tripping over the quilt in the process.

By the time I was dressed in some workout clothes, I could smell bacon frying and coffee being brewed. I made my way out of the room, and just about fell over laughing. My eyes were met with a vision I could not quite shake.

Ian had taken on the persona of Richard Simmons himself. He was sporting a royal purple pair of shorty shorts, a sparkly tank top and sweat bands on his wrists and forehead. I snorted and my laughter drew his attention.