Page 82 of Midnight Sanctuary

She gives me a small, probably-fake smile. “Thanks for staying with me. I’m glad you’re here.”

I lightly rap the back of her knuckles and smile back. “Stop it or you’re gonna make me cry. Now, lie back down and close your eyes. I’m right here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

I have no business making her promises like that, but sometimes, you just have to say the words and hope they’ll prove true. She does as I asked, curling up with the blankets raised to her chin and letting her face ease.

After a while, her breathing evens out into the rhythms of sleep.

I hope for her sake it’s a dreamless one.

37

ALYSSA

I’ve just snuck upstairs to get a few minutes to myself when the door opens and Uri walks in. I can’t even bring myself to sit up, but that’s fine, because he seems perfectly content to collapse into bed beside me.

“I was gonna come down in a bit,” I protest meekly.

He rolls onto his side, head propped on his hand, and smirks. “You wanted some peace and quiet. You don’t have to explain that to me.”

Chewing my lip, I ask, “Do you think anyone will miss us if we just stay up here for the rest of the night?”

“I’m gonna do you one better,” he replies. “But it does involve getting out of this bed.”

“Rain check.”

“Not an option,narushitel.Trust me: I’ll make it worth your while.” He pushes off the bed and I hear him walk towards the door. He doesn’t leave, though. It sounds like he’s picking something up and walking it back over to me. “This is for you.”

I force myself upright and stare at the two boxes he’s holding. “For me?”

“For you,” he repeats. “Open the big box first.”

I pull open the package to find a pretty summery dress nestled between layers of tissue paper. It’s been so long since I dressed up. Hell, it’s been a while since I evenwantedto dress up.

“Are we going somewhere?” I ask hopefully.

“You’ll find out soon enough. Go and get changed. Once you’re ready, you can open the second package.”

“So bossy.”

“I don’t think that’s actually a complaint, is it?”

Grinning, he slaps my ass as I walk my dress into the bathroom, feeling an instant uptick in my mood. I shimmy out of my clothes and into the new garment. I swear there must be some kind of magic in the stitching, because as soon as it slides over my body, I’m transformed from a baby incubator into an actual person again.

I stare at my reflection and for the first time in a long time, I actually like what I see. My stomach is still visible, mostly from the side, but the swirling pattern of the dress does a good job of camouflaging my bump.

I brush out my hair and pull out my makeup kit. It’s as basic as it gets, holding only the essentials, but it’ll work for this occasion. I apply a little foundation, some eyeshadow and blush, and a little gloss over a thin layer of lipstick. I smile at myself in the mirror. Not bad for ten minutes of work.

Glowing with renewed confidence, I head back into the bedroom, where Uri is waiting by the bed with the second, smaller box in his hands.

When he hands it to me, I pull the lid off gingerly and peel apart the tissue paper. Staring down at the small silver bullet vibrator on the inside, I snort with laughter.

Uri chuckles, too. “For old time’s sake,” he explains with a wink. “Now, go back in there. You’re wearing that tonight, too.”

I don’t bother arguing. Excitement races up and down my spine as I retrace my steps back to the bathroom. I wonder if the experience is going to be different now that I’m pregnant. I expect it to be more uncomfortable, more invasive. But somehow, when I wriggle it into place, it has the opposite effect. I feel… uninhibited. It’s as though the vibrator has given me permission to be the girl I wasbeforeI got pregnant.

Walking still takes some getting used to, but I do a couple of laps in the bathroom before heading back out to Uri.

“Are we really leaving the cabin?” I ask excitedly.

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