AT THE JOLT OF MY BODY, my eyes flew open.
The rush of my pulse buzzed in my ears.
Everything smelled wrong, nothing at all like my room, and I stared about through the darkness, trying to blink myself awake.
Pale walls offered no enlightenment. Only a deep inhalation and the quieting of my inner swarm allowed me to detect the human scent and additional heartbeat at my side.
I smiled as I recognised the softness of her hair against my collarbone, the gentle weight of her arm across my chest, and the contour of her shoulder blade beneath my palm. “Shelley?”
My whisper did nothing to stir her—telling me she’d played no part in disturbing my sleep.
My lids drooped back into place, and I steadied my breathing, relaxed my mind. The pillow against my shoulders murmured its welcome with the
