Consciousness returned to me slowly. Fragments of terrifying scenes began to swirl in my mind, and I looked around in panic. Warm light filtered through the windows. Silence reigned all around. No sign of a maniac. No ferocious dogs.
I examined myself from head to toe and found not a single wound.
Had it all been a dream?
There was a soft rustle beside me. Turning my head, I found Kirill sleeping peacefully next to me. A smile touched my lips. He was here. The man who had become so dear to me.
His black hair was tousled, forming a careless mess. His beard, as always, was neatly trimmed. My fingers moved toward him on their own. I desperately wanted to touch him—to make sure this wasn’t a dream.
My fingertips slid along his cheek, slowly trailing down to his lips.
“Come on…” a barely
