Page 19 of Devils Cut

"Okay, okay," I reassure her, wrapping myself more fully around her. My chest presses against her back, legs tangled with hers. The warmth of our bodies melds together, creating a cocoon of security from the darkness that threatens her peace.

And as the night continues to stretch on, I remain wrapped around her, a living shield against the demons that plague her dreams.

Chapter 9

Tempest Miller

Iwoke with a start, my heart pounding like a motherfucker in my chest, the first thing I notice is the cold sheet at my back where Corvus had been.

"Jesus Christ," I muttered as the images of Corvus coming to my rescue surfaced. He had heard my screams and burst into the room, pulling me from the clutches of my demons.

The blush rose to my cheeks as I remembered how he had held me, his arms strong and comforting until I fell back asleep. I couldn't believe I let him see me like that. I was mortified.

I threw off the covers and forced myself out of bed, my muscles tense as I tried to shake off the lingering embarrassment. Quickly, I grabbed a pair of frayed denim shorts and a black singlet top from my bag, hurriedly pulling them on. I ran a hand through my tangled hair, and quickly tied it up into a messy bun.

"Deep breaths," I muttered, taking in a lungful of air and releasing it slowly.

Steeling myself, I walked out of the room, heading for where I could hear noise coming from – the kitchen. The sound of something sizzling mingled with the strong aroma of coffee. Rounding the corner, I found Corvus standing at the stove, his back to me as he flipped something in a pan.

"Hey," he called over his shoulder, not even bothering to look up. "Coffee's on the counter if you want one."

"Thanks," I mumbled, crossing the room to pour myself a cup. The bitter scent filled my nostrils, grounding me as I took a sip. I glanced over at him, feeling my face heat up again as I remembered the night before. I needed to say something – apologies or... something.

"Look, about last night—" I began, sitting down at the small kitchen table, my fingers clenching around the warm mug.

"Drop it, Tempest," Corvus interrupted, finally turning to face me. His eyes were dark, unreadable. "We all have our shit. No need to apologise."

"Still," I insisted, unable to let it go. "You didn't have to do what you did. You didn't have to..." My voice cracked slightly, betraying the vulnerability I was trying so hard to hide.

"Stop," Corvus commanded, holding up a hand to silence me. His eyes bore into mine, their intensity leaving no room for argument. "You don't need to apologise."

I clenched my jaw, uncomfortable under his scrutiny. A flush of embarrassment warmed my cheeks as I remembered the vulnerability he'd seen in me last night.

"Look, Tempest," he said, leaning against the kitchen counter and folding his arms across his broad chest. "I can tell you've been through some dark shit." He paused, assessing my reaction before pressing on. "Does this happen every night?"

My heart hammered in my chest, and I struggled to maintain my composure. I looked down at my coffee, the dark liquid swirling around like a storm in my cup. "Yeah, it does," I mumbled, the words heavy with the weight of my past. "I've had nightmares every night since I was fourteen."

"Shit, Tempest," Corvus murmured, his eyes filled with concern. It struck me then that he actually gave a damn, and for some reason, that made the shadows of my memories even darker.

"What helps?" he asked, leaning against the counter, his arms crossed over his broad chest. The question hung in the air, thick with the unspoken understanding that there wasn't an easy answer to be found.

"I have no fuckin' idea," I admitted, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. "Nothing's ever really helped. I just... I deal with it."

A smirk tugged at the corner of Corvus' mouth, and he leaned back against the counter. "You know," he said, a teasing glint in his stormy eyes, "you went right back to sleep after I held you last night. Did that bother you?"

My cheeks burned with embarrassment, but I forced myself to meet his gaze. "No," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. "I... I felt safe."

"Is that so?" He raised an eyebrow, studying me for a moment. Then, he gave a casual shrug. "Well, that settles it then. I'll sleep in there with you every night, 'til you get the keys to your place."

"Corvus, you don't have to do that," I stammered, my hands twisting nervously in my lap.

"Of course, I don't have to," he replied, his voice firm but gentle. "But I want to. You deserve to feel safe, Tempest. And if I can help you with that, then I will."

His words stirred something deep within me – a flicker of hope, like the first hint of sunlight breaking through a storm cloud. It was almost enough to make me believe that maybe, just maybe, I could find some semblance of peace in this fucked-up world.

My cheeks burned like wildfire as I stared down at my half-finished coffee, the bitter taste of embarrassment mingling with the rich, dark roast. I couldn't believe what he was offering – or that I was even considering accepting it.

"Fine," I mumbled, draining the last of my coffee and setting the mug down with a defiant thunk. "But only until I get the keys to my place."

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