An inch from my face was a cold wet dog nose.  Jax quickly touched my nose with his again.  I giggled and he licked my face.  He was laying beside me, stretched out lengthwise, in Aris' spot.  I scratched his snout, then his ear.  He licked my hand.

Aris came in, just wearing boxers, from the bathroom fast.  “Sorry Jade, I forgot to warn you about Jax's bedtime rituals.”  “You are going to have to wear more clothes than that,” I admonished.  He changed it to long pajama bottoms, no shirt.  “I have a hard time sleeping with so many clothes on,” he complained.  So many clothes? What did you used to wear?  I slept wearing nothing.  I could feel myself blushing.  You should try it.  It is very liberating.  I will not do anything that you are uncomfortable with.  I took off the covers.  How about this?  I changed it to a short tank top pajama set.  Much better.  I have seen you in a bikini that leaves nothing to the imagination, though.  You could just sleep in your underwear.  I think that I will stick with this.  Can I please go back to shorts?  Fine, just not underwear.  He switched to a short version of the pajama pants.  I figured that I shouldn't push for a shirt.  No, you should not.

“So, what were you going to tell me about Jax's bedtime rituals?” I reminded him.  “Oh, yes, hug him really good and give him a kiss on the side of his snout and he will stop.”  I encircled Jax in my arms and squeezed until he started squirming to get out of my arms, which wasn't long, and kissed him on the snout.  He licked me on the cheek, stood up and hopped down off of the bed.  Aris opened the closet door, got an extra blanket out and laid it on the floor not far from the door.  “Come here Jax,” he commanded.  Jax ran to him.  He rubbed the dog all over ending with a kiss on the snout.  “Lay down and guard the door,” Aris commanded.  Jax ruffed up the blanket a little to make himself a comfortable nest and promptly laid down facing the hotel door.

“Are you afraid of the dark?” Aris asked me.  “Only when I'm outside,” I answered honestly.  “Do I need to leave the bathroom light on?”  “No, I'll be fine.”  He turned off the bathroom light, walked to the bed and turned off my bedside lamp.  He went to his side, sat down and turned off the bedside lamp.  Once he laid down, I covered us up and inhaled deeply.  You smell so good.  I did just take a shower.  That's not what I'm talking about.  What are you talking about?  Your cologne.  It smells like lavender and mint.  You always wear it.  I do not wear any cologne.  Yes you do.  I saw you put it on.  Before we went to the club.  I only wore that to the club.  I do not wear it all of the time.  You must be talking about my scent that I imprinted in you with.  I am glad that you like it.  Do I have a scent?  Does it smell good or bad?  You smell like heaven.  Something flowery.  When I figure it out, I will let you know.

He slid his arm under and around me and pulled me flush against his side.  I laid my head on his chest and put my hand on his stomach.  How did you know that my stomach hurts?  I didn't.  My hand just went there.  The more skin on skin contact we have, the faster we heal.  Really?  I draped my leg across his and dozed off with my hand still in place.  I awoke some time later to him fidgeting with my hair.  “Are you okay?”  He didn't answer.  I lifted my head up and looked at him.  He was sweating and had a pained expression on his face.  “Aris, wake up.”  I shook his arm.  “What is it?”  He sat up and slid me to the side in one smooth motion, eyes darting around in the dark.  “It's okay,” I put a comforting hand on his arm, “I think you were having a bad dream.”  “Oh, I am sorry that I woke you.”  “It's okay.  Do you want to talk about it?  That always helps me.”  I could see his eyes narrow, even in the dark.  “You have been having nightmares?”  “Yes,” I answered, matter of fact, “every since I can remember.”  “What!” he was clearly upset, although I don't know why.  “They were supposed to tell me!”  “Why?” I asked.  “Your nightmares are dangerous.  Mine are too.  We have to be careful.  They were supposed to notify me.”  “How are they dangerous?  They're just bad dreams.”  “No.  Our dreams have the capabilities of becoming true.  They have to be stopped before they get really bad.  Like you just did for me.”  “What do you consider really bad?” I asked, “and how do you stop them when I am not with you?”  “Really bad would be witnessing one of us die.  When you are not with me, I do not sleep as soundly, so I am able to wake myself up.  Have you ever witnessed one of us die?”  “No, I always just wake up.”

“I almost forgot, I had a dream where Ripley told me that I need to talk to you about being mated and marked.  What does that mean?”  “Mating means we have sexual relations.”  “I know that, but he made it sound like there was more to it than that.”  “What did he say?”  “That I need to be mated and marked.”  “You do, for your safety.  I am just trying to not rush you.”  “What do you mean by for my safety?" “If I mark you, there will not be as many males coming after you.  They see the mark and they stop.”  “Why can't you just mark me now?”  “Marking is part of the mating ritual.”  “Oh.”  “We will discuss this more tomorrow.  We should try to sleep.”  Like I'm going to sleep now.  Try to sleep.  We have a long day ahead of us.  He pulled me close again.  I laid my head on his chest and listened to the rhythmic beat of his heart.  Soon enough it soothed me to sleep.

Jade, wake up.  I leisurely opened my eyes.  Which never happens.  Something is wrong.

Aris' solid chest was still beneath me.  I could see daylight peeking in through the crack between the window curtains from outside.  What could possibly be wrong about this?  I closed my eyes, ready to go back to sleep.  Jade, put something impenetrable on.  Something that can take a beating.  Just then, I heard a click and light flooded the room.  This time I opened my eyes, fully aware that something was really wrong.  Aris was dressed beneath me now.  Let the skin pick it out.  I did as he said.  What the skin picked didn't feel uncomfortable or fortified.  I just trusted the skin like Aris had told me to previously.  “Aris and Ripley are protected,” I automatically stated, not sure why.  A large hand grabbed my arm from behind me and jerked me over onto my back.  Whomever it was cried out in agony, “she shocked me!”  “There's more of that if you touch me again.” I stated, matter of factly.  I reached out to touch him, to prove my point, and he jumped back out of reach.  I stood up and knocked on the wall behind me three times.  He looked at me, puzzled, “Why did you do that?”  “You will see,” I taunted.

“It is a code,” another man stated from the opposite side of the bed, “let her keep touching you.  She can only do it so many times before she has to recharge.”  He is correct.  Use that sparingly.  What else do I do?  Let the skin take over.  Be careful.  He reached out to touch me gingerly, quickly.  I didn't zap him this time.  He reached for me again, this time intent on subduing me.  I grabbed him by both shoulders and kneed him in the groin.  He cried out in pain.  I used the advantage and grabbed some type of gun from a side holster.  I pushed him with my foot and he fell onto the floor in a fetal position.

It was then that I looked around assessing the situation.  Four more of them, all with weapons trained on Aris.  I pointed the gun at the man who had spoken, hoping that he is the leader.  “I want her alive and intact,” he told the others.  I made a fist with my left hand.  A felt a small marble form inside my hand.  I brought it up to my face and inspected it for a second.  They all watched me with fascination, including Aris, and a little bit of dread.  I brought the marble to my lips and blew on it.  It flew to the man closest to me and attached to his chest via, what looked like, little spider legs.  He dropped his weapon and started brushing at it, trying to free it from himself.  Spider veins began forming on his face and hands.  He fell to the floor, gasping for air.  Within seconds he was unconscious.

“You do realize that there are more of us outside waiting,” the man spoke again.  “I do,” I answered.  For some reason that revelation didn't scare me when it should have.  “Your other friend has also been detained.”  Still not scared.  “What do you want with me?” I asked.  I snapped my fingers.  Something that, try as I might, I have never been able to do until now.  A much larger orb appeared, levitating above my head.    I sat back down on the bed cross-legged and took hold of Aris' hand.  “I want you for my wife,” the man hesitated.  “You are lying,” I stated, “Again, what do you want with me?”  “Well isn't it obvious?  I want your power.”  This had the ring of truth to it.  I had no clue what it meant, though.  Aris and I really need to have a talk later.  I dropped the gun.  onto the bed and snapped my fingers again.  In moments we were in the Tahoe with Ripley and the dogs.  “Ripley get us out of here,” I instructed.  “With pleasure,” he responded and pulled out of the parking lot, “What just happened and why aren't any of them following us?”  “What just happened is one of Jade's gifts and they aren't following because of one of mine,” Aris answered.  Ripley just nodded in understanding.

I wish that I understood.  I guess I do a little.  It is all just very confusing.  “Ripley, were the dogs both with you?”  “Yes.  Reese wanted to go out about an hour ago, so I took Jax out too and just kept him with me,” Ripley explained, “They both got shot with darts outside and I got jumped by those guys.”  “That explains why the dogs are so out of it.”  They were fast asleep.

“Is it still safe to go to the cabin?”  I asked.  “Yes.  We will be switching vehicles soon and the cabin is still about two hours away,” Ripley answered.  “Yeah, those men will be detained for a while.  They will never find us,” Aris commented.  “What are they doing during their detainment?” I asked.  “Do not worry about it,” he answered.  “I'm just curious,” I asked again.  “You will never find out because that is something I would never do to you.”  I could see that he wasn't going to tell me so I just leaned against him.  He put his arm around me and kissed my forehead.  I closed my eyes savoring his scent and it's calming effect on me.  Sleep, if you can.  I intend to, if I can.