Chapter 16: A Restless Night

I wake up some time in the early morning, too early to be waking up. My stomach turns with discomfort. Something is wrong. I listen closely and hear faint breathing, slow and steady. Fear grips me.

I slowly move around my bed, pausing with every creak in case whoever is in the room is alerted. I reach over to the table next to my bed, take a deep breath, and then switch on the lantern. Light floods the room, blinding me momentarily.

When my eyes adjust, I look around the room. Sitting on the floor next to the closed door is Dominik, arms crossed, head slumped against his chest. I stare, waiting for him to react. Instead, he continues to breathe deeply, undisturbed.

He’s asleep. Why is he sleeping in my room? Perhaps he’s worried that I might be taken again. The thought makes me smile a little. He could be gruff and difficult to deal with sometimes, but he truly cared.