Of Thorn and Thread (Daughters of Eville #4) - Chanda Hahn Page 0,36

my heart raced. “As ready as I’ll ever be.” My hands balled into fists and my feet were leaded weights as we walked up the stairs to the second floor and turned the corner. Our rooms were next to each other.

Liam opened his door and went in. “If you need me, knock. I’m right here.”

“You can’t sleep in a chair next to my bed every night. I can survive one night of restless sleep,” I lied, keeping my face neutral.

He didn’t seem to be buying it. “You promise, if you need me.”

“I won’t,” I said, slipping into my room and shutting the door. I pressed my back against the wood and massaged my temples. This wouldn’t work. I could hear the angry thoughts of the chef in the kitchen. The grumbling of the underpaid servant. A man puking his guts out in the bathing room and a couple across the hall making love. My mind was flashing with thoughts of lust, hate, sickness, and I could feel myself dry heave. I waited, giving Liam plenty of time to settle in for the night before I made my move.

I pressed my ear to the door and listened. Slowly, I opened it and slipped out into the hall, carefully turning the latch with nary a whisper. I turned around and was confronted by Liam. He was waiting for me. Hidden in shadow, his arms crossed over his chest, his right foot bent and supported by the wall.

“I knew you were going to be a problem.” He sighed and pushed away from the wall. “Where were you going?”

“I was going to sleep in the stables. I think it will be much easier for me to rest there.”

“But not for me.” He took my elbow and pulled me into his room. I spun and lost my balance, landing on the bed. The door slammed after us with an ominous thud. I heard him turn the key in the lock. “How do you think it makes me feel knowing you would rather sleep in the stables than be anywhere near me?”

“Because we can’t keep doing this,” I said. “I can’t ask you to be my guard dog and sleep on the floor or in a chair every night. It’s not right.”

I was struggling to breathe, as I was feeling extremely hot. I pulled at the collar of my dress as the aura from the couple next door permeated my mind. I flushed and felt hot all over. I needed to leave. I got up and headed for the door.

Liam intercepted me and gave me a wry grin. “I don’t plan on sleeping on the floor or the chair tonight.”

“I’m sorry you’re angry. I was just putting your needs first.”

His voice turned husky. “So self-sacrificing again. That’s funny, that you mention needs.” He pushed me back on the bed and I hit the pillow and bounced. “What I need is a good long rest on an actual bed, and if that means I have to tie you to the bed frame so you actually sleep and not run off to the stables, I’ll do it.” His eyes glittered with mischief, and I blushed.

He took off his cloak and folded it up on the chair and stretched out on the bed next to me. I sat with my back against the wall, feet curled up. Liam patted the mattress next to him. “You should know by now that I won’t harm you.”

I relaxed and laid down next to him, facing the wall. The room was tiny. The bed wedged into a corner. To escape, it would mean I had to crawl over him. I laid as still as I could as Liam rolled to his side, and his arm draped over my hip. I stiffened, and then relaxed when he didn’t move again.

I shifted in my sleep and pulled away. My dreams became restless, filled with horrid thoughts of being lost in a fog and the terrible monsters within. I shuddered and Liam pulled me closer into the crook of his body. Fully spooning me, his face nuzzled into my neck as he whispered, “Shh, my sleeping beauty, your knight is here.”

When morning came, I opened my eyes and saw Liam’s chest, his chin rested on the top of my head. One arm laid over my waist possessively, and I looked down at his leg threaded through mine.

My heart raced and my breathing picked up. This was too close. I tried to move away, but Liam murmured