Page 18 of Royal Surrogate 2

Beep.

Beep.

Little by little, images creep into my head?—

A rabbit.

Cold, cold water.

Pain.

There’s no pain now, though. Maybe the rest was all a bad dream.

Beep.

Beep.

Warm fingers brush against my brow, pushing my hair aside. Still Caspar, I think. I’m starting to know his touch. It’s familiar, tender. And I recognize the scent of his soap. Sandalwood, I think.

Beep.

Beep.

He’s talking to me. But I’m having a hard time understanding the words. It doesn’t matter, though. I like listening to his voice. It’s soothing. He has a beautiful voice, really. I bet he’s a good singer.

Beep.

Beep.

There are other voices, sometimes, in and out. But Caspar’s always there. I can hear him and smell him and feel him, warm and comforting at my side. Doesn’t he have things to do? Why is he sitting here with me while I sleep?

And why can’t I seem to fully wake up?

I try to open my eyes, but it’s too hard, so I give up quickly.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

That sound is really starting to get annoying. And I can’t figure out what’s causing it, or why Caspar hasn’t turned it off already. It’s hard to sleep with all that beeping in my head.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

I’m going to ask him to turn it off. I try to open my eyes, and this time I almost do it—but the light is too bright, and I squeeze them shut again quickly.

“Renae?” Caspar’s voice is right there, in my ear. “Renae, are you awake?”

“Mm.” It’s little more than a grunt.

“I’m here,” he says, his thumb stroking the back of my hand. “Everything’s all right.”

Why wouldn’t it be all right? What’s going on?

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