Page 3 of Martyr (Sterling Falls Rogues #3)

I stay in the medical wing until after dinner.

Mary Catherine comes to visit me for the meal, sitting on the end of my bed and regaling me with stories. Stuff she thought I’d miss in less than a single day, like dining hall gossip. Who sat with who, et cetera. Oh, and naturally, the newest rumors about me and Saint.

Because we can’t just know each other from the outside world. There’s speculation on why he hates me and why I stare after him with such longing…

“I don’t,” I interrupt.

She grins, unconvinced, but thankfully changes the subject.

When the doctor on call comes to release me, Mary Catherine and I leave together.

“Movie night,” she says, hooking her thumb in the direction of the recreation room. “You coming?”

I shake my head. “Just gonna go to bed, I think.”

She waves me off.

As soon as she’s out of sight, though, I pivot and go exactly where I’m not allowed.

Sleeping Beauty’s room.

Well, Lyssa ’s room. I should call her by her name. I knew her years ago—in a way. I met her when she was already unconscious, lured into the darkness by the drugs they used to hold minds hostage.

Once upon a time, I helped Gabriel and Lyssa get out of Terror… at a very high price. And it seems, thanks to Gabriel, none of us are done paying it.

But learning Lyssa Laurent is Kade’s sister? I didn’t see that one coming.

I slip into the room and shut the door softly behind me. She’s exactly as I left her yesterday, her hair perfectly spread on the pillow. She doesn’t shift in her sleep, doesn’t so much as twitch.

Since Saint’s arrival, I’ve made the unfortunate habit of sneaking in here frequently.

I don’t think that’s normal for people in comas. I’ve read about it. Asked some nurses. Patients in comas, or under medical sedation, can still react. They might pull at their intubation, scratch, squeeze hands.

Lyssa isn’t on a ventilator. She doesn’t need any assistance breathing. She doesn’t have reactions.

She just doesn’t wake up.

“Sorry I’m late.” I drag my chair closer. “You’ll never guess what happened today.”

I have no idea if she can hear me or not.

I hope she can, because otherwise I’ll eventually have to admit—to either myself or someone else—that I’ve been talking into the void for weeks.

About nothing in particular, really. I didn’t want to tell her about Terror.

She had it a lot worse than I did in that hellhole.

So I ended up just talking about Sterling Falls in general.

The town I love and seem to be quickly losing.

Talking is therapeutic. Some might say that talk therapy works. But those people probably wouldn’t say that if they knew I was talking to an unconscious girl.

Sometimes I lean forward and take her hand, squeezing her warm fingers, just so she knows she’s not alone. In case the hearing thing isn’t working, and the reflexes are just… in her brain. I don’t know. I’m not a doctor, I’m just winging it.

They keep her room kind of dark. There’s a warm, dim light on behind her head, and they never draw the window shades. I saw a note on her chart about it. That the view must remain unobstructed at all times.

Since Lyssa was not awake when she arrived here, it’s probably a wish from a family member.

So who was it? Gabriel or Kade?

Right now, the view is mostly black. There’s the glow of lights through windows in other parts of the building, and spotlights on sensors that flick on for unknown reasons. The wind moving the trees closest, animals, a wandering resident.

My attention slides away from the window, back to Lyssa.

I fill her in on Saint’s asshole behavior, both on the dock and then afterward. I wrap my arms around myself and try to forget the lingering, bone-deep chill. I half remember Saint rushing from the dock back to the center, winding through the trees.

“…but what I’m really curious about is what’s happening in Sterling Falls.

” I sigh. “There was a bad guy, Ouranos, who apparently took over with his gang. They’re called the Cyclopes, which is kind of funny because they’re known for being very single-minded.

The monsters in mythology, obviously. And you know who else is a Cyclops? ”

I shouldn’t tell her.

“Your brother, Kade.” I grimace. “I don’t know your relationship with him, to be honest. He mentioned you in passing… said something about medical bills. I think he was downplaying it. And, little did I know, he meant here . But the other person is someone you’re more familiar with.”

My stomach flip-flops.

Do I tell her?

It’s too late, now. I’ve dangled it in front of her. It would be positively cruel to keep it from her, especially since she can’t sit up and beg me to tell her.

“Gabriel,” I breathe. “He’s gone mad in your absence, Lyssa.”

This is so fucked up. I’m talking to an unconscious girl. And, in my mind, she’s taken the role of best friend.

“Honestly, I’m not really sure what to do here.

Finding you seems like impossibly good luck on my end.

Keeping you out of Kade’s or Gabriel’s reach would certainly suit my interests.

And maybe yours, as well.” I glance around at her room.

Gabriel wouldn’t keep her asleep, would he?

He was wrecked… but he’s demonstrated the ability to do the same.

To me. To Reese. How far would he go to keep his reality intact?

“Where would I put you?” I muse. “I don’t have the means to care for you. I tried. Years ago. I don’t know if you remember that. Things were more… tumultuous back then. Everything was uncertain.”

I did try. And, in the end, I fucking failed.

I lean over Lyssa. “Wake up, please. If you’re there in the darkness, I’m here waiting for you. I promise, this world is a lot different than the one you left.”

I squeeze her hand.

And she squeezes back.