unwanted

chapter thirtyfour

unscathed

The screams being ripped from her were hoarse and raw, their echo chilling. She begged the faceless man who held a red-hot branding rod and was coming closer.

"Please don't. Please"

"Karza. Shh, my love. There is no one here but you and__."

His words were cut off the same instant she woke to the feeling that Kellum was nearby.

"Don't you dare!" She leaped to her feet, searching for them.

William laid upon his stone bench with Kellum over him and his hands trying to crush the smaller man's windpipe.

Still in the grips of her nightmare, she attacked. Crying and beating at his back, begging him to stop.

"He was hurting you."

"No! It was you; it is always you. Please don't hurt him."

Stunned, Kellum backed away. His hands held out in front of him. "You were crying. I thought____."

"William?"

He was sitting up now, his hands at his throat. Seeing her worry, he winked. "I take it this is our army?"

Fully awake now, Jess blanched as the whole scene replayed in her mind. Seeing him again was hard enough but she hated that he'd seen her crying and weak. This was not someone who got to see how pathetic she's become. Drying her face, she went to her outfit and put it on quickly. "You're early."

Going back to William, she offered him some water.

"I'm fine, Karza. I was trying to comfort you and he came out of nowhere. Are you okay? You were______."

"I'm fine. Kellum, why are you here?"

She might have addressed him but if she could help it, she didn't plan on looking at him.

The less time she spent near him or looking at him the better.

"I felt_____."

Her sharp laugh cut him off. He'd had no problem ignoring her pain up to now and he could very well go back to that.

"Leave. Come back after breakfast."

"No, Jessalynn. I am here now. Fill me in on what we are up against."

Maybe the way he said her name used to have a strange effect on her, now it just pissed her off. How dare he stand there and get to be the same person when she didn't get to be. He looked and acted like it was only yesterday that she left.

Except that wasn't true either. It was clear to see that his feelings for her had changed. Once he would have wanted to kill William out of jealousy not out of protection. Once seeing her barely dressed would have sent his eyes to blaze.

Dead on the inside Kellum was back. She could handle him. "You will call me Jess or nothing at all. Do you understand that?"

Without giving him time to answer, she addressed his question. "Big, women who know how to fight."

"Dezrick, says there are close to two hundred on board."

She looked to William.

"More than half of that are slaves."

"Until we know otherwise, we have to assume that the slaves are on our side. Some will be freed and trying to help. Do not hurt them! Any of them. Even the ones not on our side are just going to be scared and fighting for their freedom."