Page 36 of The Knight

Without a word, Abe’s hand shifted from her knee to cover her hands, his warmth reassuring.

“I had to buy groceries, clean the house, cook.” Her tone was flat, almost as if she were reciting someone else’s life. But it was hers.I lived that chaos.“School became my escape, my safe place. Away from her rantings, from the mess. I could lose myself in science. Science never let you down, you know?” She swallowed hard, her voice dropping to a whisper. “It was reliable, immutable. Safe. When everything else wasn’t.”

She hadn’t meant to go so far, but once the words had spilled out, they wouldn’t stop.

She took the last sip of schnapps, the burn sliding down her throat, and then let out a shaky laugh, trying to lighten the weight of what she had just revealed. “So, now you know. I’m the crazy lady who hides behind numbers.” She shrugged, half-expecting to see pity in his eyes, or worse, indifference. Instead, his gaze seared into her.

“I don’t think you’re crazy.” His voice was soft as he reached up and tucked a loose strand of damp hair behind her ear. Tingles scattered across her scalp and down her spine. It was all she could do to remember to breathe. “I think you’re strong. To have survived that and come through. That takes actual strength.”

The sincerity in his voice hit her hard. She felt exposed, but not in a way that made her want to hide. The way he looked at her, with no judgment, only understanding, made it clear—he saw her. All of her. And he wasn’t running away.

The edgy energy that normally coursed through her veins stilled, replaced by an unfamiliar sense of calm. This was what it felt like being with Abe. His presence revealed a side of herselfshe hadn’t known existed—a version that could find peace amidst the chaos.

“I won’t let you down, Freya.” His face was serious. “I’ll keep you safe. If you’ll let me.”

Silence stretched between them.

A soft thump broke the spell as Moose leaped down from Asta’s lap. The cat sashayed out of the room with an air of feline superiority.I have mice to kill, hoomans.

“Moose is off on patrol.” She was grateful for the distraction. Her voice sounded breathless even to her own ears, betraying the rapid beating of her heart and the warmth pooling low in her belly.

Abe straightened, pulling away from her, the movement leaving her feeling oddly bereft. “It’s late. We should both hit the sack too. It’s been a long day and we have another ahead of us tomorrow.” He stood and, retrieving a blanket that was folded across a chest at the side of the room, he draped it over the sleeping Asta. The tenderness of his gesture made something twist in her chest.

He extinguished the lamp and plunged the room into darkness save for the glow of the last embers in the stove. In the dim light, he turned to her, hand outstretched. “Come. We should get some sleep.”

19

Freya allowedAbe to lead her by the hand up the stairs to the bedroom. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her, not just from the day’s events, but from the emotional toll of opening her heart to him. Yet, paradoxically, she felt lighter than she had in years.How was that even possible?

Abe pushed open the bedroom door, his hand lingering on hers for a moment before letting go. “I’ll take the floor.” He retrieved a draped blanket from a chair in the corner, then grabbed a pillow from the bed and tossed it onto the hardwood.

“One more thing.” He took a chair and wedged it under the door handle. “Better safe than sorry.”

Freya climbed into the bed fully dressed.Just in case. The sheets were clean and carried the soothing scent of lavender. Memories of her grandmother’s house and carefree, sun-drenched days fluttered through her mind. Days before her father died, and the darkness descended.

Abe took a final, vigilant sweep of the window before lying down on the floor. “Good night, Freya.”

“Night, Abe.”

She stared at the ceiling. Sleep was elusive, despite her bone deep weariness. His presence brought a sense of security. This mountain of a man, she now knew without doubt, would do anything in his power to keep her safe. But tonight, it wasn’t enough.

She wantedmore.

“Abe.” She pulled the sheets up under chin. “Are you asleep?”

His response was immediate. “No.”

The sheets crumpled in her grip as she mustered the courage to say the words bouncing around in her mind.What if he said no?“Will you hold me?”

A rustle of blanket broke the silence. She dared not look toward the foot of the bed, instead hugging her arms close to her chest.Waiting. Wanting.

“Of course.” His voice was a resonant rumble. Soft footsteps padded across the floorboards before the bed dipped under his weight. He lay down next to her, and slid his arm around her waist, his touch igniting fire across her skin, even through the layers of clothing.

He pulled her toward him. She relaxed and allowed her body to mold against his. Scorching heat raced the length of her body, soothing the terror she had dared not admit for fear it would tear her apart, the terror that had taken root the moment the first intruder had stormed her lab.

And yet, even though she had asked him to hold her, her analytical mind searched for the comforting distance of facts and figures. “Did you know sixty-eight percent of people who engage in casual intimate contact remain good friends without further complications?”

“Good night, Freya.” His words were a low vibration against her skin. His breath skimmed her neck, his chin bumping her head, and as his breathing slowed, his arm grew heavy against her body, his heartbeat steady against her back.

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