Page 38 of The Cute Psycho

One moment I'm up in the air, the next my feet touch the ground. Even more surprising, Vlad staggers to his knees, his features drawn in pain, his mouth open on a sound that won't come out.

I look into his eyes and I see only one thing.

Suffering.

His arms come around my midriff, bringing his face flush against my belly. Heat emanates from where his body meets mine, and a deep sense of comfort settles in my bones.

"Sister," Vlad whispers again, and I get the sudden urge to thread my fingers through his hair, lull him into a sense of security where he can finally relax, away from whatever demons seem to have possessed him.

His arms tighten around me as he continues to repeat the word sister, each time more urgently than before.

I don't know how to react. I only know that I want to help him overcome whatever he's going through.

Lowering my hand to his back, I pat him slowly, trying to offer himsome comfort. He immediately reacts to my touch, purring like a big cat the more I stroke him.

"It's okay. You're safe here." I feel compelled to add, and his shoulders slump slightly, his head moving on top of my habit as if he's seeking something. Then, out of nowhere, his breathing regulates, his chest rising and falling softly.

"I think he's sleeping," I say after a while. Somehow I wish for nothing more than to continue to hold him, but I know it's not my place.

Likely will never be.

So I slowly take his arms off me, a lump forming in my throat as I watch him fall to the ground.

"What wasthat?" I ask Marcello once I'm next to him.

"He..." He frowns, trying to find the right words to explain Vlad's condition. "Has some trauma. This must have triggered him."

I nod absentmindedly, even though my gaze keeps on straying to his form on the floor.

"Before we leave, I want to ask you something," Marcello surprises me by saying.

"What?" I frown.

"Do you really want to take your vows? If you feel in any way that this life isn't for you, you can tell me. I'm worried about your safety here, and Mother Superior won't let me hire a guard for you."

My eyes widen, and I don't know how to answer.

"You... you're saying..." I breathe out slowly, afraid I'm misconstruing his meaning. "You're saying I can leave the convent? But where would I go... I...."

"You can come live with us," Catalina interjects, coming toward me, "we'd love to have you, isn't that so, Marcello?"

My brother nods.

"It's your home too. And you'd be safer there."

"I..." I don't know what to say. I'd never in my wildest dreams dared to believe I would leave this convent. "Yes, yes, please," I answer promptly, happiness bursting in my chest at the thought. "Thank you! I... you do not understand what that means to me."

"Did you not like it here?" he asks, studying me in confusion.

"It's not that," I start, not wanting to sound ungrateful. "I don't think I'm fit to be a nun," I admit, lowering my gaze.

If only they knew justhowunfit I am to be a nun....

"I think this is the best option. I've always known Sisi wasn't meant for this life," Catalina agrees, taking my hand in hers.

I'm so happy at the prospect of leaving this dratted place that I barely hear Vlad moving about.

Lina and Marcello gaze back at him, and I turn too, watching as he's slowly rousing from his sleep.

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