Page 29

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

Syros

I t has been many years since I’ve dreamed.

In fact, I cannot remember the last time I dreamed before Erin came into my life, but since meeting her, all kinds of images have plagued my sleep. Thoughts of losing her, of keeping her forever, or what the future could hold for us, of her going home. They are just as conflicted as my waking thoughts, but one thing is always certain: when I fall asleep, she is there in my mind, waiting for me.

After being wounded by the human weapon, I fall into a deep sleep unlike anything I’ve experienced before. Pain bleeds into my thoughts, physical and emotional, as I dream about losing her over and over again.

I can’t wake. I can only watch as she leaves me time and time again.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, consciousness returns to me and I wake. I stare up at the roof of my cabin, tracing the familiar sight in my mind, wondering how I made it back here. The last thing I remember was collapsing in the forest, staring up at Erin’s pretty face, telling her to leave and let me die. The rest is darkness.

Noise nearby makes me bristle, but movement causes pain to tear through my side. I look around frantically, wondering if a Grim made their way into my home as I slept. I find that my torso has been wrapped in cloth—the fabric that once hung over the door to my cabin. My gaze flicks to the gaping doorway where sunlight now spills into the space. Did I tear it down at some point?

My gaze sweeps across the room, and a flash of silver hair catches my attention. My heart clenches painfully as I realize it’s Erin, moving around the cabin, rearranging my collection. More fabric from the doorway is fashioned around her, tied behind her neck, clinging to her curves. I stare, drinking in the sight, confusion clouding my thoughts.

What is happening? Is this yet another dream?

I look around the room, taking it all in. Everything is different, things lined neatly against the walls, more objects hanging up around the space. It’s clean and neat, the best it’s ever looked, and an inhale brings a delicious smell to my nose.

Did she cook while I was asleep?

Warmth spreads through me as I watch her, my curiosity piqued. She didn’t leave the way she planned, and she looks perfectly at home in my cabin. Like this is her home as well. After watching her for several minutes, I growl low to catch her attention, and her eyes snap in my direction. Her features light up, and she rushes over, dropping next to me on the nest of furs.

“You’re awake!” Her fingers trail across my chest, the touch lighting up my skin and causing my insides to twist in excitement. Touching her is electric, despite the other times my skin has been against hers. It feels new, foreign. “You scared me there a few times.” A dark expression flashes over her face. “I was worried you might not make it.”

I force a laugh, and pain shoots through my ribs. “It will take more than that to kill me, little human.”

More darkness plays over her face. “Syros, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know he had a gun with him. If I knew he would hurt you, I would have never… I—” Her voice warbles, and I shush her.

“Do not worry about that,” I tell her. “I hold no ill feelings toward you. Tyler, on the other hand…” Rage turns my vision red, but I fight against the feeling. He is not here, and there is no reason to take my anger out on her. I swallow down the growl forming in my chest. “How did you get me into the cabin?”

She works her bottom lip between her teeth. “How much do you remember?”

I replay my last memories before losing consciousness again, straining to put the pieces together. “I remember falling and staring up at your face. You told me you loved me, and I don’t remember ever feeling so content, so happy . If I had died, I would regret nothing,” I say. “Your face is the last thing I remember.”

She smiles, but I can swear I see tears banked in her eyes, and the thought of upsetting her hurts my heart. I’ve caused her so much pain and torment already; the thought of making her sad is enough to tear me apart.

I want to be the reason for her happiness, not her anguish.

“I managed to slow the bleeding, and I let you rest in the forest. I brought you water, and you came to enough to walk back here,” she recounts slowly, her fingers dancing through my fur as she speaks. “I tried to help, but you’re freaking heavy, sir.”

“I walked here?” I repeat slowly, surprised by the information. I can’t recall any of that, no matter how much I prod at my memory, but there’s no other explanation. I must have managed somehow. “What happened after that?”

Her cheeks turn pink, and she glances quickly around the room. “I cleaned your wound and bandaged it the best I could. I hope you don’t mind, but I had to use your curtain.”

My eyes flick to the sunlight spilling into the room, and I shake my head. Her concern is endearing; she cares so much about how I feel. Little does she know, she could burn my house down with me inside it, and I wouldn’t care, as long as it kept her warm.

“You can use anything I have, whatever you need,” I assure her, brushing my knuckle gently along her collarbone.

“I also rearranged a little,” she says, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. A smile curls her lips. “I got a bit bored after the first day.”

Panic rushes through me, and I glare at her in disbelief. “The first day? How long was I unconscious?”

The thought of her alone, completely unprotected while I slumbered away on my nest, twists my insides. Anything could have happened to her, and I wouldn’t have been able to keep her safe. If a Grim stumbled upon my home—or worse, another Ech—she could have died.

I never would have forgiven myself.

“A few days,” she says, thoughtfully. “Like I said… you worried me a couple of times, but I’m so glad you’re okay.”

She brushes her fingers gently against my maw, the touch settling some of my uncontrolled feelings, and a swell of sadness overwhelms my other thoughts.

“Thank you for tending to me. You did not have to,” I say, wrapping my arm around her and pulling her to my chest. She carefully avoids my injured side and settles into the crook of my arm. “As soon as I am able, I will help you remake your machine so you can go back home. It is clear that I cannot keep you safe here.”

She purses her lips and glares at me. “I’m not going anywhere. Do you remember what I told you?” She doesn’t wait for me to answer. “You went through all the trouble to keep me, and now you’re stuck with me. I don’t want to go home. I want to stay here… with you.”

“But what about—”

“But nothing.” She shakes her head. “I had the chance to leave, and I made my choice. This is where I want to be.”

She leans down to press a kiss to my snout, and I inhale her familiar floral scent. The gollilock is fading, so she’ll have to bathe again soon to keep her natural aroma masked, but the smell of her makes my mouth water.

I reach up to caress the curve of her ass, and she smacks my hand away.

“Absolutely not,” she scolds, a crease forming between her eyebrows. “You need to rest. No fun times until you’ve eaten and can move a bit on your own.”

My jaw falls, and I stare at her. “Should I not be rewarded for surviving? For not dying?”

Her laugh pierces the air, music to my ears, and her shoulders shake with the sound.

“Nice try, but you’re on bedrest.” She jabs a finger into my chest. “But don’t worry, there will be plenty of that when you feel better. Now, I spent all morning cooking what I hope is not a poisonous lunch, so get ready to be the judge of that.”