Page 278 of Black Reign

I should be frightened.

I should be thinking about ARGUS.

Papa.

The men who found me.

The fact that Xavier Blackwell now knows my real face and my real name.

Instead, I'm warm.

Full.

Safe.

His coat is folded beside me, close enough that I can still smell him.

My lips are tender from his kisses.

And across the fire, Ghost sits in an armchair watching me like I'm the thing he's spent his entire life trying to find.

The intensity in those dark eyes should make sleep impossible.

Somehow it does the opposite.

My body finally believes I don't have to stay awake.

“Ghost?”

His expression changes at the name.

“Yeah?”

I let my eyes close.

“Still here?”

A pause.

Then his voice crosses the quiet room.

Low.

Certain.

“Still here.”

My chest loosens.

I smile without opening my eyes.

The last thing I see before sleep takes me is Xavier Blackwell in the firelight, elbows resting on the arms of the chair, his dark gaze fixed on me.

Not hunting.

Not questioning.

Just watching.