Karen Chance: Curse the Dawn

"It still wouldn't hurt to be polite."

"It is obvious that you have yet to meet the family. I am terrorized by them, not the other way around, I assure you."

Mircea reentered the bedroom and started throwing on clothes without his usual grace. I followed, sitting in the teepee. "When will you be back?"

"Not for hours." He paused to kiss me quickly. "Get some sleep."

"I'll try." I was exhausted, but my brain didn't seem to know how to cut off anymore. When the endorphins wore off, I'd probably be wide awake, staring at the ceiling, thumbing through my ever-growing catalogue of horrors. It wasn't a pleasant thought."Do you want some help?" he asked, sitting beside me.

I nodded. Anything to avoid replaying today's events or seeing Rafe like that again. . Mircea's arms slipped around me and a wave of peace flowed over me better than any drug. I hadn't expected it to take hold so fast. I had a dozen things to talk to him about, to ask. . and suddenly I couldn't think of even one. Sleep was dragging at my consciousness, my body going thick and heavy, and I couldn't make myself open my eyes again.

"It's over; everyone's safe," I heard him murmur. The arms tightened abruptly. "Even you."

I had no idea what that meant, but I was drifting. Mircea's hand was running slowly up and down my spine, the other heavy on the back of my neck. I breathed out and let the weight pull me under.