QUINN“Wait. Wait. Wait!” then SHIMM!The slash comes with the sound, sharp and wet, and I jolt awake. I push my head up from the pillow and a sharp pain is sent to my waist.I hiss, my hand flying to the wound.I blink hard, the room coming into focus till I see her figure. Lucia's perched awkwardly on a chair by the table, elbow propped, fist tucked under her cheek. Her eyes are closed, her head tilted at an angle that tells me she didn’t mean to fall asleep like that.God, no! She’s uncomfortable, but clearly too exhausted to fight the sleep.I grunt as I force myself upright. For a moment, the pain locks me in place, then it recedes, scattering through my entire body until it all fades and I feel almost nothing... except her. I reach for the robe hanging on the closet hook and slide my arms into it, tugging it over my shoulders.The bandage on my wound is soaked through, brown-red blooming against the white. I clutch the plackets, drawing the robe closed to cover it. Lucia does
Last Updated : 2026-01-16 Read more