Page 116 of Misery and Ecstasy

Until it happens again.

My eyes shoot open.

Turning my hand over, I ensure McKinsey’s is balanced in my palm so it won’t fall. Staring at her fingers, I don’t blink, waiting to confirm what I thought I just felt.

I don’t dare look away for fear of missing it, and finally, I watch as the first two fingers on her right hand dance, slowly, back-and-forth.

My eyes dart from her hand to her face just in time to see the skin on her forehead twitch. The sensation of watching her muscles work on their own is overpowering, but the sight of her eyes cracking open for the first time in over two weeks nearly stops my heart.

“Kins…” My voice is strangled with emotion as I cup her face in my palms.

Her eyes open wider, and the air in the room seems to still as I wait for her to see me. To recognize me.

Finally, they meet mine, and the life in her stare is strong enough to bring me to my fucking knees.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

MCKINSEY

Aman’s voice echoes in my head.

I recognize the tone, but without being able to hear it clearly, I don’t know who it belongs to.

Then, as though someone adjusted the dial on a radio, it becomes clear.

Draven.

He’s telling me he loves me.

He’s begging me to fight.

Who am I fighting?

He sounds scared.

I need to go to him.

I have to make sure he’s okay.

But like in most nightmares, I can’t get my body to move.

I struggle to remove the weight I feel around my hand.

And then it’s gone, and it feels like my hand is floating.

But that’s ridiculous.

Why would it be floating?

What’s happening?

I want to see Draven.

Why can’t I get to him?

Open your eyes, McK. It’s that simple. If you want to do something, do it.

Fucking do it.

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