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  With her hair fanned out on the stained tiles, she looked like a child ready to endure something evil—an evil that had been endured before.

  Revulsion filled Trent like a noxious fume as he reared backward off her body and got to his feet. Noises from behind nearby doors meant people would be spilling into the halls.

  He looked up and down the corridor, pulling in air suddenly depleted of oxygen.

  With one last look at Seffy and her hopeless gaze, he turned and ran.

  Chapter Twelve

  Ugly sobs ripped from Seffy's body, taking what little strength she had left.

  Her lungs burned from the exertion, her leg muscles ached, but it was nothing compared to the anguish mushrooming in her heart.

  Trent might as well have ripped it from her chest and tossed it aside.

  Somewhere around the corner, she heard a door slam and excited voices. Seffy forced herself to sit up. Her head swam.

  She scooted across the floor to lean up against the wall, fighting the urge to throw up.

  It would take strength she didn't have to stand, but at least she wasn't splayed out in the middle of the hall.

  “Seffy!”

  Lani's shocked cry met her ears.

  “Oh my God, are you okay?”

  Wrapping her arms around her knees and keeping her head down, she nodded.

  “Did something fall on you? Why are you in the hall?”

  Lani wasn't alone.

  “Good Lord, what happened to you?” Addison.

  Someone kneeled next to her. “Hey, Sef, let me help you up.”

  Oh no. Seffy did not have the reserves to deal with Gareth right now.

  “Where's Trent?” Lani asked. “Did he go to get help?”

  Gareth took her hand to help her up. She winced at the pain. Through her lashes, she followed his attention and saw the black and blue bruises circling her wrists.

  Damn.

  “Is this from the earthquake?” he asked quietly.

  Seffy didn't answer. She knew how this would go down. The shocked silence from the girls only confirmed it. They came to her, one on each side, and hoisted her up. She tried not to whimper, she really tried, but her whole body hurt like hell.

  “The back of her head,” Addison whispered.

  Lani gasped. She didn't need to look up to see Gareth's grim expression.

  He swung her up into her arms and took her to his own room, the girls close behind. Lani and Addison preceded him inside, then he kicked the door closed behind him. Gareth lowered her gently onto his bed.

  Seffy desperately wanted to sit up and face them, but her limbs refused to obey. Her body felt like beaten rubber and it was all she could not to break down into tears that might not end.

  She heard Lani talking in a low voice on the phone. A few minutes later, something cold was lightly pressed onto the back of her head.

  Through the tangled strands of her hair, she saw Gareth's knee from where he sat next to the bed.

  She knew what he was thinking, knew he was wishing he'd finished the job he'd started with the baseball bat.

  She knew he'd find Trent and kill him.

  Trent.

  Seffy didn't have a clue what had happened. One minute there was an earthquake, the next he was acting like an animal. She'd gotten another flashlight from a nearby storage closet—not a fun trip alone in the dark—and planned to deal with his attitude head on. How had that turned into a chase?

  God.

  She closed her eyes, longing for the oblivion of sleep. But she knew the nightmare wasn't over, especially when Olga arrived. Seffy silently submitted to an exam, resigned to the moment when the other bruises were discovered. Some would be a different color by now, indicative of injury happening over a period of time.

  She remained silent when their whispered exclamations came.

  Next her clothes were peeled off and she was helped into a pair of clean pajamas. Seffy glanced at her shirt and jeans on the floor and saw the shirt was covered in blood. Whose blood? Was it from the kitchen? She remembered blood on Trent's face as he held her down—

  Seffy swallowed hard, blocking the memory.

  Where was Trent? Was he okay? Despite her terror and confusion, she yearned for him. If only he was in her arms, she could understand what happened. Tears leaked from her eyes.

  After Olga left, Seffy managed to find the strength to ask to be returned to her room. Gareth's curt 'no' wasn't a surprise. But she wanted to be in Trent's bed, she wanted to press her face into his pillow and breathe his scent, and maybe when he came back, they could work this out.

  “Sef,” Lani said quietly. “Olga left you some pills to help you sleep.”

  Seffy rolled over and looked up at her friend, then glanced across the room and saw Addy, her expression bleak, and Gareth, his gaze hard.

  She slowly sat up and accepted the pills, seeing no other option.

  Maybe...maybe she'd dream of her husband.

  ***

  From the discomfort of the hard, wooden chair, Gareth watched the slow rise and fall of Seffy's shoulders as she slept curled up on his bed. He'd sent the girls back to their rooms hours ago. Their emotions had made things even more difficult.

  Lani had been nervous, flitting around the room, thinking up excuse after excuse to explain away Trent's behavior.

  Gareth already had his answer.

  More disturbing had been Addison's empty eyes and pinched expression. She'd sat lifelessly in her chair, staring at Seffy, looking devastated.

  He didn't get it.

  They all knew a Trent and Seffy match was a disaster. But even he was surprised at how quickly it had gone to hell.

  A glance at his watch showed the time to be four in the morning. Apparently Olga had given her some heavy duty sedatives because she hadn't stirred, even through the earthquake aftershocks that still had everyone on edge.

  His attention returned to Seffy's sleeping form. A fresh surge of protectiveness washed over him. Didn't she know it was all he ever wanted—to protect her from situations like this?

  But poisoning the purity of intention was a thin stream of disgust—disgust that she'd give scum like Trent the time of day, that she'd let him touch her.

  The knowledge had destroyed his bond with Seffy. She'd been prepared to throw it all away on a bastard who didn't have the right to breathe the same air as her—who didn't have the right to breathe, period.

  If there was one redeeming aspect to Trent's character, it was leaving. Gareth was determined to make sure he stayed gone for good.

  Seffy began to whimper in her sleep. Her face scrunched up like she was in pain. Gareth went to the bed and sat down on the edge of the mattress. He reached out to touch her shoulder, but something made him hesitate. He made a fist and returned his hand to his lap.

  Suddenly she gasped and rolled onto her back. Gareth watched tears roll from the corners of her eyes as she wrestled with disturbing dreams.

  Her respiration increased and she made a low keening sound that sent chills across his skin.

  God, Seffy, how could you let him bring you to this?

  After a moment's pause, she began flailing her arms, reaching into the empty air for something. When she came in contact with him, her hand closed around his arm and tugged him to her side.

  Gareth was afraid to wake her up, so he patted her hand and edged away. But she pulled him close with surprising strength and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  With his heart in his mouth, he allowed her to draw him down in an embrace. The sound of her weeping against his neck tore at his heart.

  A faint smell of strawberries drifted up from her hair. Gareth recognized the scent of the cheap shampoo issued by the compound, but it smelled like heaven combined with the warmth and softness of her body.

  Seffy's fingers threaded into his hair and her tears changed to kisses on his throat.

  He froze, knowing he should break away, but what about her frail mental state if she was awaken
ed suddenly? Who did she think she was kissing? Her lips moved to his mouth, hungry and insistent.

  Overcome by a fierce wave of desire suffused with melancholy for the past, he responded, allowing his mouth to sink against hers for the barest moment.

  Seffy lifted her lips a fraction, then moved beneath him, arching her hips against his. “Trent,” she whispered, “I need to feel you inside me.”

  Caught up in the moment, it took a second for the words to pierce his brain. Then her hands tugged at his waistband. Gareth lurched upright.

  The action woke Seffy up. She stared at him, first with a frown, then the color drained from her face.

  Her forceful recoil nearly sent her off the edge of the bed. Gareth jumped off the mattress, furious that he'd been caught only because he'd tried to be consoling.

  “What the hell are you doing?” she yelled, breathing hard. A rush of red flooded her cheeks.

  He held up his hands. “Hey, you were crying, I was just trying to comfort you.”

  “Is that what you call it?”

  Her mocking tone set his teeth on edge. That, combined with the meaning of her whispered words, made his own face burn. “How do you let him put his hands on you? He's a filthy animal.”

  Her dark eyes flashed. “I'm the filthy one remember? But I see even you can set aside your false righteousness to get a little touch.”

  “Seffy, I swear it's not what it seemed.”

  She glared at him for a long moment, then lifted her chin. “So what does this look like?” She pointed to her bruised wrists and pushed up the sleeves of her pajama top to expose marks there.

  “What, other than the fact that your so-called husband beats the crap out of you?”

  “He's never done that. Ever. But since you prefer your assumptions to reality, then I don't believe you either.”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  Seffy came around to the other side of the bed and headed to the door. “You figure it out if you have any interest in the truth.”

  She slammed the door so hard, it shuddered in the frame. Gareth stared at it, clenching his fists.

  Trent was dead meat.

  ***

  Seffy made it back to her room and into the shower before the tears came—the latest batch anyway.

  To be thrust from what she thought was the heaven of Trent's arms to the fact that Gareth was...that Gareth was doing anything with her...God. What exactly happened with him? Her dream had been extremely intimate.

  She scrubbed her body hard with soap. When she washed her hair, she cringed at the pain throbbing at the back of her head. After she was dressed, she went to Trent's room. From there, a quick peek in the Light Room.

  Nothing.

  Where could he be? He was coming back, right?

  Seffy returned to his room and collapsed onto his bed. She smashed his pillow to her face.

  What had gone wrong? Why had he chased her? Had he changed his mind—decided he didn't want to be together? But it still didn't explain his behavior. Was there some freak-compound-mystical reason? As much as she wanted to believe it, she had to admit that didn't make sense either.

  Maybe old, mean Trent was back—from waaaay back. Maybe he wanted to make her fall in love with him so he could hunt her down like an animal in an abandoned psychiatric section of a Montana compound. That'd show her.

  Seffy curled onto her side. The closest thing to a sane reason was that Trent was losing it. Whether it was her nut job influence, the compound's crazy sway, or just that whole time travel thing, he was apparently losing his grip.

  But she wanted him back. Somehow...anyhow.

  “Knock knock.”

  Seffy sat up too fast and was punished with a head rush. She pressed her temples, waiting for the room to stop spinning. Passing a shaky hand over her face, she looked up to see Lani poking her head in the door.

  “Is it okay to come in? We brought breakfast.”

  Breakfast? She didn't remember falling asleep. But Seffy nodded and pushed her hair from her face.

  Lani was followed by Addison and Olga, and set down a covered platter and carton of orange juice on the desk. They all stood and stared at her like she was a freak.

  Lani cleared her throat. “We tried your room, but you weren't there.”

  “Is Trent back?” Addison asked in a sharp tone.

  Seffy shook her head. The girls went over and perched on the edge of the couch while Olga opened her medical bag.

  “I just want to check you over one more time, dear.”

  Seffy sat listlessly while Olga listened to her heart and lungs, checked her eyes, took her blood pressure, then examined her bruises once again.

  The nurse sat on the edge of the chair and sighed. “How long has this been going on?”

  Seffy raised tired eyes to her. “What?”

  “How long has Trent been...abusing you?”

  A rush of fury choked her for a moment. She balled her hands. “Never.”

  “God, Sef, you are not going to do the whole denial thing with this.”

  Seffy turned to Addison and spoke in measured tones. “If you want the truth then hear me out. Trent has never, I repeat never intentionally hurt me...until last night.” She took a deep breath, glad she was past the hardest part. “But I've noticed some changes in his behavior in the last week or so—”

  “Like what?” Addison demanded.

  Lani shushed her.

  “He hasn't been eating, and he's been sick, as in throwing up. He's been edgy and tense...”

  Olga adjusted her glasses and looked worried.

  “Last night when the earthquake woke us up, he wanted something to eat from the kitchen, so we went in the dark. It was stupid, I know, but he said he was starving. Then he got mad at me and for some bizarre reason I ran away. He chased me and took me down. I guess I hit my head on the ground, but beyond that, he hasn't done anything to hurt me.”

  “What about the bruises?” Lani said in a wobbly voice. “We saw them all over your back and arms.”

  “They're also on my legs. I've thought hard about that, and aside from last night when Trent grabbed my wrists, I don't know how I got them.” She looked at her hands, fighting the heat building behind her lids. “Trent loves me. I know he does.”

  “After he knocked you to the floor,” Olga said, her even tone at odds with the awful irony of her words, “what did he do?”

  She closed her eyes. “The lights came on and he stared at me like he didn't know what was happening. Then he took off. He looked freaked.”

  Lani released a sigh. “I sense a compound-sponsored conspiracy here.”

  “You're sure you're not in denial.” Addison's voice shook.

  “If Trent was abusive, the truth would be out now, so why would I lie?”

  The redhead considered the words and seemed marginally satisfied for the moment.

  “Girls, could I please have a word alone with Seffy?” Addison and Lani exchanged glances, then jumped up and hurried from the room. When they were gone, Olga folded her hands. “Now, what is it you're not telling me?”

  Seffy swallowed. “There are other details, but I don't know if they mean anything.” She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. “The only thing Trent has been interested in is sleep or...sex. No food, no conversation, no...walks on the beach at sunset.”

  Olga peered over the tops of her glasses as if she expected more.

  “I mean he used to be about making sure I...uh, he was very...patient with me when we were intimate.”

  “He sounds worth his weight in gold,” Olga said dryly.

  Seffy refrained from fanning her heated face, grateful her message was clear. “Yes.”

  “And that's changed?”

  Seffy nodded. “But it's not like he's being selfish, it's like he can't help it.”

  “So, now he's typical.”

  “I guess.” Seffy shook her head. “But something's still off, because he wants me all the time—�
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  Olga raised a brow.

  “It's more than desire. It's like an obsession, which I suppose must explain the bruising. But I swear, I never felt any pain.”

  The nurse reached out and patted her hand. “I know this is difficult for you.”

  Seffy pulled in a breath, her lip trembling. “Something's different, something's wrong. I know this isn't anything about 'the honeymoon being over.' He hasn't been able to eat for days, except I saw him eating something in the kitchen—”

  “Malone told Lani that raw meat was found next to a knife on the work table this morning.”

  “Oh, God. It just doesn't make sense. But then, he's always smelling me and not wanting me to shower, and last night...last night when I shined the flashlight on him in the dark, his eyes reflected yellow like...an animal's. But it was so fast—maybe I just imagined it.” She looked down. “I think that's why I ran.”

  “Did he tell you to stop?”

  Seffy shook her head, her hair forming a veil over her face. “No, I think he...liked chasing me.”

  Olga blew out a breath. “Well, I feel that I've gotten to know Trent pretty well, and this does not sound like him at all.”

  She looked up, tears rolling down her face. “I know love can make it hard to see things clearly sometimes—”

  “Something is wrong with Trent, dear, that much is certain. The next part will be to figure out what happened to him. Do you know where he is?”

  Seffy shook her head, mashing her lips together to keep from crying out. “Maybe his yellow eyes were just a trick of light. That's possible, right? And he must not have realized the meat was raw. I know there must be an explanation.”

  “I'm sure there is,” she said distractedly. “And while I'm here, I'd like to take a blood sample. See if there are any changes in your blood chemistry.”

  “Don't I need to go down to the lab?”

  “I'm not so sure you could make it that far. Besides all those new rules are because of someone else's paranoia, not mine.”

  Seffy watched while Olga pulled on gloves and readied a vial and needle. She took Seffy's arm, gripping her flesh, then inserted the needle. Seffy cringed at the sharp prick. The nurse did the task with brisk, efficient motions and soon had the vial tucked away in a cushioned container. Next, she disposed of the needle into a small, portable biohazard container.