Chapter 75

The Fragments

Athena woke up with a start, her heart pounding against her ribs as if it wanted to escape. For a second, she thought she could feel a pair of warm hands resting on her shoulders, grounding her, calming her. But as her eyes blinked away the haze of sleep, the feeling evaporated, leaving only a hollow ache in its place.

Throwing the covers off, she sat on the edge of the bed, pressing her hands against her temples. It was the third night in a row she'd had that dream—the one where she lay under a shadowed figure, feeling warmth and strength enveloping her, but waking before she could catch even a glimpse of his face. The dreams always left her rattled, like they were memories just out of reach. She clung to them, hoping that maybe, just once, she'd catch a full glimpse of the man who haunted her nights.