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n~ ZEV ~

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"Are you okay?

" Sasha murmured, nuzzling her face into his neck, her words slow and hushed, drowsy.

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"Yeah, just excited for tomorrow,

" he said, his voice extra low and rough.

nIt was true that he couldn't wait for the following day—wouldn't rest until she was his before all the Clans. But that wasn't what was making his neck tense, and his eyes dart around the room.

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"Me too,

" she breathed and Zev's heart squeezed.

nIt was almost a relief when she fell asleep so quickly. Listening to her low, slow breathing as he stroked his fingers up and down her arm, surrounded in the warm scent of her, it was a moment he'd dreamed of for years.

nBut his stupid body wouldn't relax.

nHe lay in the dark of the little house, staring at the ceiling, just feet above the bed, the straight lines of the walls, and the skin between his shoulder blades itching. Zev gritted his teeth and closed his eyes. Maybe if he couldn't see how close the roof was… maybe if he couldn't see all the flat walls and unnatural planes…

nBut even with his eyes closed his senses prickled—rebreathing the air, no hint of the breeze that always fluttered through the trees of Thana—screaming at him that he was inside. That this place was a cage, an unnatural space, that the humans had a hand in it and they were going to drag him back!

nZev screwed his eyes tightly closed and pinched his nose, reminding himself that he was in Thana, and free, finally, of the team and Nick and… that the door wasn't locked. There was no guard on it. That the choice was his when and where he moved.

nBut even when he turned on his side so Sasha's weight didn't press on his constricted chest, as she curled up inside his arms and he finally dozed off, his body was tight, rigid with stress.

nIn the dream there was a forceful knock on the door and he knew it was Nick. He kept his eyes shut, refusing to see him, to hear him, convinced that if he could just ignore the man he called father, that nothing bad would happen.

nBut of course, that's not how life works.

nDespite his denial, suddenly Nick was in the house, standing in the light of the open door, shaking his head.

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"Is she worth it?

"

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"Yes,

" Zev snarled at him.

"You don't touch her.

"

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"I wouldn't give a ** about her, except for the power she has over you,

" Nick said with a shrug.

nBecause it was a dream and Zev wanted to move, suddenly he couldn't. He was frozen in that spot, one arm over Sasha's waist the other under her neck, cradling her.

nHe sucked in hard, determined to move, to put himself between her and Nick. But he couldn't move. He could barely open his mouth to speak. And his eyes didn't want to open. He needed them open to see the threat and combat it. But instead his lashes barely fluttered.

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"Don't… touch… her,

" he snarled again through gritted teeth—his jaw wouldn't even move.

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"I'll touch whatever I want, whenever I want,

" Nick said, his voice low and determined.

"You think you know it all, Zev, and you don't.

"

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"I don't… care about the program. I don't care… about the people you've…

"

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"Yes, you do.

"

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"Not more… than I care about her.

"

nNick let out a long, low whistle.

"That's a big call, Son.

"

nZev's eyes screwed more tightly shut even though he was trying desperately to open them.

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"What are you… doing here?

" he growled.

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"Easy, I came for her. Which is really the same thing as coming for you, right?

"

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"No.

"

nBut instead of responding, Nick began to move, his footsteps clipping on the wooden floor, and tension ratcheted up Zev's spine with every step. He curled his arm around Sasha even tighter, pulling her into his chest and snarling that Nick wouldn't take her.

nBut he couldn't see, and his hearing was echoing. He couldn't measure the distance from Nick's steps to the bed and he needed to know. He needed to see! He needed to get her out from under Nick's eyes.

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"Relax, Zev, I told you: I will never hurt you. You're my prize, Son. The most important thing I've ever done. Stop worrying.

"

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"Leave her alone!

"

nHe couldn't see, but he could feel Sasha sliding from his grip, his grip that he couldn't move and he howled, snarling, fighting desperately, trying to claw at her, to keep her there, but no matter what he did, she kept sliding from his grasp.

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"Sasha! Sasha!

" he screamed.

"Get out! Don't let him touch you! Sasha! Wake up!

"

nNick tsked.

"I keep telling you, Zev. No matter what, we're always one step ahead of you.

"

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"Sasha! Wake up! Run! Run!

"

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"Zev?!

"

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"Get out!

"

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"Zev, I'm right here, I—

"

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"Don't let him get you! Don't—

"

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"Shhhh, it's okay—

"

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"It's not okay. It's not **ing okay! He'll kill you, Sasha! He'll kill you!

"

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"Zev—

"

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"Run! You have to run!

"

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"Zev, it's a dream.

"

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"No, you don't understand—

"

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"Zev, WAKE UP!

"

nA sharp crack woke him with a jolt of adrenalin and his heart pounding so hard he wondered if it would actually crack through his ribs. He blinked and realized he was sitting up, hands gripped on Sasha's arms, his fingers digging into her. He released her immediately with a curse.

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"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, babe. Did I hurt you?

"

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"No, Zev… are you awake?

"

nSasha's eyes were wide pools in the darkness, frantic with worry.

nHe stared at her, blinking, his eyes darting over her shoulder to where Nick had stood. But the space was empty.

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"It was a dream,

" she whispered, stroking his face.

"Zev, are you awake now? Can you see that it was just a dream?

"

nHe nodded, but swallowed hard as she fell into his chest, hugging him.

"What did they do to you?

" she whispered.

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"I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm sorry I scared you,

" he said, keeping his voice as low and emotionless as he could.

"Don't worry, Sash. It was just a dream.

"

nBut her eyes said she didn't believe him.

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