Page 181 of Scattered Glitter

I manage a shaky laugh. “You just hurt me, you hypocrite.”

He pulls back to meet my gaze, amusement shining in his eyes. “There she is.”

The dregs of the panic begin to fade, slipping away in slow, measured beats, and I’m left raw and vulnerable in their wake. I blink, looking at him, and a lump rises in my throat as tears threaten. Before I can stop myself, the words spill out in a whispered confession. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to do this tomorrow, Koen.” I swallow thickly and blink back the tears, stopping them from spilling over. “I can barely handle it right now. How am I supposed to get through it when you’re not there?”

His gaze roams over my face as if he’s weighing my words, turning them over in his mind for several long moments. Then he sighs, his hand slipping from my neck to take mine, squeezing gently.

“Okay,” he says with a new determination in his voice. “Let’s try something else. You’re so receptive that maybe… maybe the hypnotism will work.” He studies me, then gestures toward the deserted parking lot stretching out beside us. “Come on. Get out of the car for a minute.”

He stands, extending a hand to help me out, and I undo my seat belt to follow him. I look around, taking in the empty lot. We’re away from the bustle of Vegas, and its remoteness helps keep the panic from rising again.

“All right. Stand here.” He positions me a few feet away from the car and waits until I’m still, then steps closer, his hand finding its way to my chin again, tipping my face up so I’mforced to meet his eyes. “This is going to be the same as before, all right? Just let me in.”

I nod as I stare into his brown eyes, my uncertainty fading as I sink into their depths.

He sighs faintly, almost like he’s aware of the effect he has and is uncomfortable with it, but the longer I hold his gaze, the more a glint of amusement shows itself.

Fingers brush against my wrist, encircling it, and then he pulls me to him. There’s a pause as if he’s giving me one more chance to change my mind, but my resolve must show because the next thing I feel is a light tap on my forehead.

“Sleep,Little Thief.”

The word sinks into me, threading through my mind like a whisper of silk. My eyelids flutter shut, and I drift in the in-between, tethered to the world by the pulse of his presence.

“All of your fear, all the anxiety, it’s dissolving. It has no place here,” he explains quietly. “Because… you’re safe. Completely at ease. Being in a car feels natural, comforting, even. It’s your favorite place to be.”

With each word, a soothing calm spreads through me, slowly replacing jagged fear and anxiety. His voice seems to be rewriting the fear, replacing it with something soft, something I can sink into.

“Every time you ride in a car, you feel free,” he continues, the gentle rhythm of his words weaving a cocoon around me. “There’s nothing to fear. The car is your escape, a place where you feel at peace, in control, and completely safe. You love the feeling of the road beneath you, the hum of the engine. Riding in a car is freeing, something you look forward to.”

His words sink in, and I feel myself leaning into the suggestion, accepting it, letting it settle deep.

“Whenever you step into a car, you feel that same ease,”he whispers. “It’s like slipping into a favorite place. Safe, familiar, calm.Wake up.”

His hand is still holding my chin, and I open my eyes, finding his gaze focused on me. There’s a softness in his eyes, something tender and unexpected, and it’s impossible to look away.

“How do you feel?” he quietly asks as if he’s afraid the spell he’s woven around me might be too fragile, and it might break.

I take a deep breath, assessing the newfound sense of calm inside me. “Better.”

Koen’s mouth curves into a small smile, something proud flickering in his eyes as he watches me. “Just remember this feeling. Tomorrow, if you start to feel panicked, you’ll come back to this. I’ll be there with you in your head, keeping you safe.” I nod, and Koen finally releases me, stepping away as he teases, “Well, that was easy.” He crosses his arms as he raises an eyebrow at me. “A little suggestion and look at you… calm as anything.”

His smugness makes me laugh. “Yeah, well, maybe you’re just as easy. Has anyone ever tried to hypnotize you?”

“Never. But I showed you how it’s done, didn’t I?” He steps back into my space. “Go on. Give it a try.”

I narrow my eyes, my hand reaching out to take his wrist, pulling him even closer as I stretch up and tap his forehead with mock solemnity. “Sleep.”

One corner of his mouth quirks up. “Nice try.”

I scowl, undeterred, and try again, this time with a little more intensity. “Sleep.”

Koen’s grin widens, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He’s obviously thoroughly entertained by my efforts, not budging an inch.

Looks like I need to bring out the big guns.

I grab afistful of his shirt and tug him down to my level. The sudden pull makes his hair fall forward and tease my cheek as I lift my hand, gently pushing the stray strands behind his ear. The curve of his hearing aid catches my attention for a split second, my eyes flicking up to his.

He regards me intently as I take a breath, letting the moment settle between us, then I lift my fingers to his forehead. The touch is feather soft, deliberate. “Sleep,” I whisper, mimicking that low, commanding tone he used on me.

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