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“Montreal,” I say into her hair. “I headed for the airstrip right after you called me.”

Nora’s body goes stiff, and she tries to pull away. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have made such a—”

“None of that,” I murmur. “No apologies.”

“But, I—”

My mouth finds hers, not sure what else I can do or say to make her believe me.

It might be a mistake to assume she’d even want to kiss me after everything she’s been through today, but as soon as our lips meet she comes to warm, vibrant life in my arms. I swallow her small groan and tangle my hands into her hair.

Gods above, I needed this.

It seems that she may have, too, as she presses closer, meeting each one of my urgent kisses with her own. She tastes like toothpaste and her own unique salt and floral essence, and with every passing moment I sink further and further into her.

If I’m not careful, I could devour her whole. And Nora is just as eager, hands fisted in the soft fabric of my shirt. She tugs it upward, darting her fingers beneath to skim along my bare skin.

Reluctantly, I pull back from her. Not far enough to put any real space between us, but just enough to look into her bright, slightly glazed eyes.

“Nora,” I half-whisper, half-groan.

She lays her forehead on my chest, still breathing hard.

“It’s late,” I murmur. “You should get some rest.”

And indeed, it’s a little past two in the morning. With the flight and the time changes, I’m just starting to feel the effects of my day of travel, and I imagine she must be exhausted after the day she’s had as well.

“Would you stay?” she asks, voice barely above a whisper.

She… wants me here?

“Stay with you? In your bed?”

Nora nods. “Yes… I mean, you don’t have to. If you’d rather—”

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

I take her hand and lead her to the bed, pulling back the covers and sliding in after her before settling on my back, giving her plenty of space.

Nora, the unimaginable treasure that she is, curls immediately against me. She lays her head on my shoulder, wraps an arm around my waist and glances up at me, something shy and questioning in her eyes.

“Is this alright?”

Gods, I can’t help it, I laugh. When her brow furrows, I lean down and kiss it.

“It’s more than alright.”

Nora’s answering smile lights up every part of me, and I kiss her forehead again.

“Sleep. I’ll still be here when you wake up. You’re not alone, little siren.”

12

Nora

There’s a kraken in my bed.

Well, technically it’shisbed, but the point still stands as I blink awake and find myself sprawled across Elias’s chest.