Page 11 of Veil of Dreams

Not when she knows my name.

"All hands! On deck!" I boom, my voice barely audible over the wind's howling. "Tighten those lines! Seal the hatches!"

My crew leaps into action, following my commands with frantic movements. The storm shows no mercy, waves crashing over the boat with a ferocity I've never before witnessed. The rain stings my skin, but I steel myself against it, determined to weather this storm and uncover the truth about the woman who claims to know me.

"Gorthak, we're taking on water!" Kogan's voice cuts through the wind, laced with panic.

My heart pounds like a battering ram against my ribs. I race towards the stern, dreads whipping wildly. Water swirls around my boots as I grab a bucket and start bailing, every muscle straining.

"We need to turn her into the wind!" I bellow, voice barely carrying over the gale. "Brace yourselves!"

My crew fights to spin the wheel, faces twisted with exertion. The boat groans, timbers creaking under the onslaught. But the storm's merciless, waves relentless, and my gut twists with a cold dread only matched by the icy rain stinging my skin.

The wind screeches its fury, hungry to devour this rickety hull that harbors more than my ragtag bunch of misfits. It carries the secret of the woman who insists she's acquainted with my past. And by the gods, I won't let it sink without a battle.

With a nauseating plunge, the boat submerges, hurling me into the frigid embrace of the sea. My breath is ripped away as I wrestle to the surface, lungs begging for a gasp of air.

I plow through the water, muscles protesting, but fueled by a desperate determination I never knew existed. The relentlesswaves pummel me, threatening to drag me into the watery depths.

As I wrestle against the tempest, a realization strikes me like a bolt of lightning. I do know her name. I've always known it, buried somewhere in the recesses of my memory.

Cassia.

10

CASSIA

Instead of the usual nightmare, where things start from the beginning, I find myself right where I left off.

Gorthak stands before me, the dust from the chaos he caused still lingering in the air. He's massive, scarred, and bloodied, but the blood isn't his. His dreads are pulled back, revealing his sharp features.

Damn, he's sexy.

"Cassia," Gorthak's deep, gravelly voice sends shivers down my spine as he says my name. "You said my name."

I can't believe he knows who I am. My mind races, trying to figure out how that's possible. I've never seen him in real life, yet there's something about him that feels familiar.

My heart pounds in my chest as I stare at him, my voice barely above a whisper. "You know my name?"

He doesn't answer right away, his eyes never leaving mine. It's as if he's trying to see into my very soul. Finally, he speaks, his voice low and intense. "You know mine."

The way he says it, with such certainty, makes me question everything. I do know his name. But how? Then again, how doeshe know mine? His gaze on me is fierce, like he's never seen a woman before. It's unnerving, but also exhilarating.

I can't help but feel drawn to him, even though I know I should be afraid. There's a hunger in his eyes, but it's not the kind that comes from needing to eat. It's the kind that comes from wanting to possess, to consume. And for some reason, I find myself wanting to be devoured by him.

He places his meaty orc hands on the bars of my cage, and with a grunt, he easily bends them apart. I watch in awe as his muscles ripple under his skin. So strong, so powerful. I want to bite them.

When he scoops me up into his arms, I feel safe for the first time in what feels like forever. His touch is gentle, despite his size. I rest my head against his shoulder, breathing in his musky scent and relaxing into him.

He turns to leave, but we're suddenly faced with a group of elves. They're not the ones I'm used to seeing, with their cold, calculating gazes and blades of fire. Gorthak sets me down and pushes me behind him, shielding me with his body. The muscles in his back tense as he growls at the elves, his voice low and menacing. "It would be wise for you to put down your blades."

But the elves ignore Gorthak's warning, advancing towards us with a sinister glint in their eyes. The flames of their blades flicker menacingly in the dim light of the basement, casting eerie shadows on the walls.

Gorthak draws his massive battle-axe, gripping it in his equally massive hands. He charges towards the elves with a roar that shakes the very foundations of the manor. I watch in awe as he swings with deadly precision, slicing through the first elf's blade and cleaving him in two. The other elves hesitate for a moment, but then they attack with renewed ferocity. Gorthak fights them off with ease, his battle-axe a blur of motion as he cuts down one elf after another.

I can't help but admire his strength and skill, the way he moves with such grace and power. It's like watching a dance, a deadly dance of death. And despite the danger, I feel safe with him, protected by his massive frame and his unwavering determination.

The other elves are quick to react, but Gorthak is faster. He ducks and weaves, dodging their blades with ease. He grabs one elf by the throat and lifts him off the ground, his eyes blazing with fury. With a swift motion, he snaps the elf's neck and tosses his lifeless body aside.