Page 27

Pain shoots up my leg, jolting me from sleep.

Mira kicks her legs beneath the blankets, hitting me right in the knee a second time. She’s inched her way over to my side of the massive bed.

Her hands press against the headboard over her head like she’s trying to lift it, while her head thrashes from side to side.

“Mira,” I say her name softly at first, not wanting to scare her more. She seems terrified of whatever she’s dreaming about already.

Her foot makes contact with my leg again, and I hover over her, holding her face with one hand.

“Mira!” I pat her cheek. “Wake up, you’re dreaming.”

She screams, but her eyes aren’t opened yet.

Fuck. Her hands smack against the headboard and she thrashes to the side, but still, she doesn’t wake up.

“Mira.” I run my hand over her cheek, speaking in a soothing tone.

I’ve seen this before. She’s not dreaming, it’s a night terror.

She kicks me again, but it’s not as hard as before. Sheseems to be losing steam. Her muscles soften beneath me as I keep petting her cheek.

“Shhh, it’s all right.” I slide to her side, pulling her into my arms as she goes limp.

A thin sheet of sweat covers her brow, so I wipe it away, brushing her hair back at the same time.

“Rurik?” She goes rigid. “What’s happening? What are you doing?”

“Keeping you from kicking me.” It’s a protective measure but also holding her like this isn’t so bad.

“I kicked you?” She sighs. “Was I screaming?”

“A little but mostly thrashing around.” I continue stroking the hair away from her face. “Do you get night terrors often?”

“I don’t know. I mean, I didn’t used to all that often, but my landlady said she heard me screaming a few times.”

“And you’re not having a nightmare?”

“Not that I remember. I’m just tired and sweaty when I wake up.” She touches her head. “Like now. I’m sorry I kicked you.”

“You should be. Hurt like hell waking up like that.” I squeeze her a little. “When did this start?”

“After I left home.” She rolls out of my arms, onto her back. “I’m okay now.”

“What happened with your boyfriend?”

“I told you, Marco shot him.”

“Where you helping him deal?”

“No.” She turns her head to look at me. “I don’t do drugs, and I don’t sell them. Nico…was a mistake.” She rolls her eyes. “One more mistake in a long line of mistakes.”

I check the time on the clock sitting on her nightstand. It’s four in the morning.

“How was he a mistake?”

“You mean other than he got me into this mess? He was just a horrible boyfriend.”

“How?” I have no idea why I’m asking.