Zahra's heart actually skipped a bit when his thumb brushed over her cheek and she stared up into his eyes, unconsciously leaning after his touch when he dropped his hand.
The dreams were fresh in her mind as well, and it took a good deal of will power not to reach for him again, to pull him in and just hold him for a moment. "Cole, I-"
Her voice was cut off by another, one that made her blood run cold and terror grip her heart. She whimpered, pressing back against the wall of the alley as her eyes darted from Cole to Jarvis and back, then away, looking for an escape.
She clenched her eyes shut against the human's threats, all too vivid images of what he described bursting into her mind. Oh gods oh gods oh gods, help me, please, I can't, help please please-
No.
Her eyes snapped open as something like fire rushed through her, just for a moment. No more. She was not going to just let this happen. With a quiet sound that was almost a growl, she found herself suddenly standing in front of Cole, arms spread slightly as she tried to use her tiny self as a shield.
"Touch him and I'll k-kill you." Her voice shook, the stutter was clearly present, but she'd said it. She'd done something. She wouldn't be the victim in this, not anymore. If she was going to die, she was going down fighting damnit.
And she wouldn't let him hurt Cole, not while she could stop it.