“Please, no details. My brother is going to owe me so much for this,” he grumbles, clearing his throat. “Sheena, I expect theypreferyou want them both. Monogamy isn't really mandatory in our community, and it's unheard of for an incubus. But Callum—he's not really built to sleep around.”
“What should I do?” I say, my voice small.I was so brave on that counter, but do I dare reach out and take what I want?
“Umm, have a damn conversation and maybe some fun. You don't have to buy the car just because you take it for a test ride. Just please, and I can't emphasize this enough, don't tell me about it afterwards.”
“Thanks, Ciprian,” I murmur.
Can it really be that simple?I still have some thinking to do, but the conversation did actually help. He's right. It's not like I'm agreeing to some kind of lifelong commitment.
“Any time, bestie.”
His tone is sarcastic, but the nickname makes me smile.I’m going soft.
After he hangs up, I crawl into bed. Though it’s not late, I can barely keep my eyes open. It’s weird, but fatigue doesn’t always make sense, I guess, and there have been a lot of changes in my life. Sinking into the bed, I enjoy the cool feeling as I drift off.
My skin tingles, but it’s not the sheets. Something else is... here. My sleepy brain struggles to make sense of the feeling.
It’s not something at all. It’s . . .
Danger.
Someone is watching me.
My brain demands I wake up, but my body is too far gone. I sink deeper into sleep, my heart racing helplessly.
GIDEON
I listen to Sheenathrash around in her sleep through the wall. Another nightmare. Proof that a past like hers doesn’t always go away quietly. I’ve been giving her space during these episodes, but tonight, the bond is screaming at me to comfort her.
She whimpers, and I’m on my feet.
I tiptoe down the hall, opening her door gently. The last thing I want to do is scare her more, but I can’t just leave her to fight her fears alone. She’s curled up in a tight ball in the middle of the big bed, flipping back and forth, a light sheen of sweat glistening on her forehead.
A breeze moves the hair on her cheek.
Wait, what? Why is the window open?The curtains are blowing in the breeze, bathing the room in the humid summer air.No wonder she’s sweating.I slide the panel shut and flick the lock. It’s not safe for her to sleep with the window open, even if we are on the second floor.
When she whimpers again, I forget all about the window and move to the side of the bed. Looking down at her, I hesitate. I’m scared to make it worse, but seeing her like this is terrible.
She flinches. Then her whole body stiffens in terror.
“Baby, wake up. It’s a dream,” I whisper.
That’s it.I can’t leave her like this.I crawl in beside her, wrapping her up in my arms. She doesn’t wake, but her body relaxes. I’m clueless about what I should do, so I go with my gut and start talking. I tell her she’s safe and that I won’t let anything happen to her.
When her breathing finally levels out, I slip quietly from the bed, checking the window on my way out. It’s just as I left it.
The oppressive humidity from earlier has escalated to a pop-up storm. Lightning crackles in the distance. Sheena doesn’t stir. For a while, I stand there watching raindrops slide down the glass in patterns, each one slightly different than the one that came before it.
I hope it dies down soon.
I check the latch one more time. Satisfied it’s secure, I make my way back to my room, hoping Sheena will sleep until morning without having to face any more nightmares from her past.
CHAPTER
TEN
LYSANDER
