Page 163 of Beautiful Venom

A version of Vi I don’t recognize.

Broken-down.

Decimated.

“Goodbye, Dahlia.”

“No…no…”

“Wake up now, Dahl.”

“Vi, no, don’t go.”

“It’s okay. You’ll be okay.”

“Nooo!”

“Dahlia!”

“Dahlia.”

“Dahlia, wake up!”

My eyes fly open, my breath coming in ragged gasps as hot tears cling to my lashes.

“It’s okay. You’re okay. It was just a nightmare.”

I look up as Kane sits in bed, gliding my damp hair back, his fingers stroking my face gently.

He reaches to the bedside table and offers me a bottle of water.

I sit up and gulp most of it while still panting. Images of Vi leaving with my parents play so vividly in my head, a taste of nausea crawls up my throat and I feel like throwing up.

“You feel better?” Kane’s deep voice sounds soothing. Consoling, even.

Which is a rare version of him.

He takes the water from my fingers and watches me closely as if he can peek into my brain.

I wrap my arms around my knees and rock back and forth. “I had a nightmare that Vi went with my parents. That she…she died and left me all alone. She said I’d be okay. She said her goodbyes.”

“That was only a nightmare.”

“What if it becomes real?”Back. Forth.“I…I’m barely over my parents’ deaths and only because I have Vi. If she…if she…leaves as well, I don’t know how I’ll go on.”

A big hand wraps around mine and gently pulls it, stopping the rocking. I stare at Kane and his handsome, composed face calms my breathing.

There’s a firm yet soothing authoritativeness in his expression, like I can fall and he’ll catch me. No questions asked.

“Violet is still alive, but most importantly, you are alive, too. Besides, you’re not all alone. You have me.” His mouth twitches in a small smile. “Didn’t you promise to annoy the hell out of me? Let’s see whether or not you succeed.”

My lips part.

A warm feeling I’ve never experienced spreads inside me like a hug.

You have me.

Kane said I havehim.

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