Page 68 of Under a Wicked Moon
Where are you, Ky?He wouldn’t leave her unless something happened to him.
Had she hurt him? Said something to him? Injured him?
No falling apart. You know nothing. Get the facts. Figure out where you are.
Her stomach clenched tight to the point bile singed the back of her throat. Everything went cold, not because she was being watched, which she’d detected for the last minute.
Roman stood in the doorway, glaring the same eyebrow-pinched distrust he had the first moment she’d met him. He had his arms crossed and hands tucked into his armpits.
“Where’s Ky?” she asked.
Instead of answering, Roman asked, “Do you know your name? Do you know who I am?”
She blinked.
“I need an answer.” He uncrossed to draw a gun and point it at her.
“I know who the hell I am. You’re Roman. My head hurts but I…” She swallowed hard and pressed her fingers into her temples, which did nothing to alleviate the headache. “They did it, didn’t they? They ordered me to do something. What did Ido?”
“You killed Ky.” He lowered the gun and stared as if trying to read if she were still activated.
“No,” she rasped out. In a small voice, she forced out, “That’s not possible. He can’t be dead. How?”
“We all knew he’d never hurt you if you went for him.”
Heaviness expanded outward from her chest. “He’s so much stronger than me. I couldn’t have. It’s impossible. The two of you would’ve stopped me.”
“Is it that impossible?”
She dropped her head. “He would let me hurt him. To save me, he would die.”
“Between you and the sniper…he’s gone. Don’t you remember?”
She swung her head back and forth. “I don’t believe it. I need proof he’s gone.”
“He protected you from snipers and got too many holes. Then you… it’s not like I took fucking pictures.”
She curled in on herself. He couldn’t be gone. It made no sense.
What if…
Pain ripped through her. She rubbed her chest as if to inspire her lungs to work, not that air moved any easier.
Words would barely come out. Those that did came out shaky. “It’s not true. You’re lying.”
Roman didn’t reply.
Who was going to keep her safe when the nightmares hit? Who would help her discern reality from nightmare?
You’re safe.
Ky’s words… His deep voice rang through her head.
Only, she wasn’t safe anymore. Not without him. Was this even real? Was this a new nightmare?
The little German’s laugh rang in her ears as he flicked a syringe of fluid as if to remove bubbles before pressing its tipinto her thigh. She cried out and grabbed her thigh.You’re the less useful sister. Let’s see if we can make you functional.
She pressed her hands against her ears and rocked back and forth. “Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. You’re not real.” She fisted her hands in the sheet beneath her, focusing on the fabric to convince her brain she wasn’t there. This bedroom was real. “I need Ky. I need his help.”
