The blanket currently faced my wrath because I was squeezing the shit out of it like it were Lucian’s neck. I nudged open the door and spread the blanket over the comforter. The chill only worsened through the night, so I would take all the warmth I could get.
The spare room was a smaller version of Lucian’s space, sans the wardrobe and connecting bathroom.
I pulled back the comforter and slid between the smooth sheets. As soon as I settled against the pillow, he called out.
“Josephine.” His voice echoed down the hall. I sighed, staring at the ceiling. “Josephine!”
I shoved the blankets off and rolled to my feet, running to the door.
“Josephin—”
“I’m coming,” I shouted back and shuffled to the room next to mine.
“What’s wrong?”
I burst inside, panting from how quickly I’d dashed. He sat propped on the pillows.
“You didn’t have to run.” He looked calm enough to piss me off.
“You called me like the room was on fire.” I crossed my arms.
“I . . . just needed my cell phone.” I swept my eyes around the bedroom. “Alex left it in the living room.”
“I’ll be right back.” I stepped out of the threshold.
“Josephine!”
“Lucian,” I yelled back and poked my head in the room, raising my eyebrow.
“Can you bring me some water as well?”
“Sure.” I left, taking the stairs two at a time. I grabbed his phone on the way to the kitchen to get the water. The phone vibrated in my hand, and I lifted it.
There wasn’t any passcode, so his home screen popped up. My thumb slid across it, and I accidentally clicked on the messages app.
I read the latest one.
Bruno: We haven’t found her.
Hesitating, I swiped out of their messages and clicked it off. No sign of Cierra. The snake was slippery.
At the fridge, I opened it, grabbed the glass water bottle, and shut the door, returning the way I’d come.
I reached the landing of the second floor and was back inside his room. Hesitantly, approached him, then I placed the water on the nightstand and dropped the phone next to him.
“I accidentally read Bruno’s text. Sorry.”
He frowned at me.
“There’s nothing to apologize for. You’re welcome to anything of mine.”
Now it was my turn to frown. Instead of addressing that comment, I said, “They haven’t found Cierra.”
His eyes thinned, and a terrifying look crossed his face as he hummed.
“Okay, is that all?” I asked, already inching back to the door.
“I was thinking.” He stopped and cleared his throat. The silence ticked on for a few more beats. “Sleep in here,” he blurted and cleared his throat, his eyes skittering to the side.
