Siren Awakened - C.R. Jane Page 0,34

with any of the other guys, but the three of them were extremely possessive, so me grasping onto Laz’s hand might lead to war.

When I tried to pull free, his hold tightened, swinging his gaze over his shoulder at me. “Better to be safe than sorry.”

Of course he was referring to the snake shifters, and I found myself looking at everyone who looked my way in case someone intended to hurt me. Maybe coming here wasn’t such a good idea after all.

I tracked alongside Laz, who held me close, until he took a sharp left with me in tow. He was opening a door, and in seconds, we stepped outdoors.

Fresh wind blew through my hair, and it was the most beautiful sensation. Indoors felt like a sardine can with stuffy air. I took in several deep mouthfuls, bathing in the natural light before looking around at a yard covered in grass nestled between two lofty buildings. The sun remained hidden behind heavy clouds, and I stared at what looked like small garden patches that had long been overgrown with weeds.

“What is this place?”

“Something I want to offer you to use when you need it. It originated as a small project by the prison doc, but it was quickly shut down by the warden. He doesn’t believe in rehabilitation.” He stuck his hand into his pocket and pulled out a small metal key, then placed it into my palm. “Stole it ages ago, and I come out here to calm down, otherwise I have terrible sleep walking problems. I walk into the wall over and over. You know how many times I woke up in a puddle of my own blood? But now I want you to have it.”

His words piqued my interest instantly. “You sleep walk as well?” I curled my fingers around the key, feeling the warmth of the metal from his touch. “Thanks for the key by the way. That’s really sweet of you.” I slipped it into the pocket of my pants.

“Seems we have more in common than I’d realized.”

An excitement rose through me. “How do you stop it?” I asked. “Did you ever find yourself out of your cell and doing strange shit?”

The way he looked at me said none of those things applied to him. “Generally, I just walk and bump into things since I’m closed in my room.”

“Oh.” I glanced away, hating that I let myself have high hopes so quickly.

“Hey.” He touched my shoulder. “Tell me more about your experiences. Maybe we can help each other.”

I lifted my head and stared back at him. What did I have to lose by telling him the truth? I had no idea what was going on, and maybe he’d have some insight.

I moved to a soft patch of grass and sat down, Laz doing the same, leaning his arms over his bent knees.

“This stays just between us, all right?”

He nodded.

“I don’t really understand it. I’ve never walked in my sleep before, but last night, I woke up outside my prison cell. And my door was open like someone had unlocked it for me once the lights went out. Worse part, I think I broke into someone else’s room and plucked their taxidermic raven.”

He frowned. “You said plucked, right?”

I rolled my eyes and whacked him in the arm. “There were black feathers everywhere. And yesterday, those women accused me of stealing other stuff from them. That’s strange, right?”

“You sure you were sleepwalking and someone isn’t pranking you?”

I blinked up at him as his words sank in. I had contemplated the idea, and it would explain a lot. “Maybe those witches set me up? But why? I don’t even know them.”

“Maybe leave some kind of trap in your door,” he suggested.

“Right, so then the two of us can sleepwalk together? I can see it now.”

“Wonder if there’s such a thing as sleep sex. If I leave you horny enough, then you’ll break into my room instead of someone else’s. I like this plan.” That time, I laughed at his fantasy, though my lips still tingled from his mouth on mine earlier. The guy knew how to damn kiss.

I lifted my head to the blue sky bruised with dark clouds as though a storm approached. I missed seeing the weather, experiencing rain, the sun burning down on my shoulders. The key in my pocket was a reminder that Laz had given me something special. A small escape when I wanted nothing more than to get away.

It was a strange