Page 50 of When Monsters Rise
BastianandBeehad also made a couple of stops on the way to grab some sleeping bags and camping gear from a local hiking equipment store.Wealready had a camping stove, but they’d picked up two more.Still, we all agreed it was too risky to cook food, as the smell could draw the predators at night.
Wedid heat water for tea and coffee though, andMirahanded out cookies from a box she’d packed.They’dbeen freshly made the day before and tasted delicious.
Fora little while, the mood in the bank was optimistic.Butthen night fell and the distant, and sometimes not-so-distant, howls of monsters reminded everyone how close to danger we were.
Sissykept the children occupied with stories and quiet games until it was time for them to go to sleep.
Thehours ticked by, and silence fell as one by one our party drifted off into slumber, confident that the watchers would protect them at their most vulnerable.
Thesewere my people.Myresponsibility.Butthe watchers were my people too now.Myfamily.Andthey needed sleep as well.
Shemsat by the main doors, his back to the wall, one knee up, elbow resting on it.
Icrouched in front of him. “Youand the watchers need to sleep.Bastian,Bee, andIcan take turns to keep watch.”
Thecorner ofShem’smouth lifted. “You’resweet, but no.Iwon’t sleep knowing that you’re not beside me.”
Hesaid it so casually that it took a moment for the deeper meaning of his words to hit, but when it did…ah…my heart.
I’dpromised myselfIwasn’t going to do this yet but… “Whatyou said in the mall when you thoughtMichaelwas going to take me…”
Heslow-blinked and fixed his intense gaze on me. “Imeant it.”
Fora momentIcouldn’t breathe.
“Ineeded you to know,” he said. “Nowyou do.”
AndIneeded him to know. “Ilove you too,Shem.”
Hisnostrils flared, and his beautifully feral face softened. “Good, because one-sided affection is never fun.”
Ilet out a soft laugh. “True.”Imade myself comfortable on the floor beside him and rested my head on his shoulder.
“Whatare you doing?” he asked.
Islung my arm around his waist. “Iwon’t sleep knowing that you’re not beside me.”
Hischest rumbled, and he put his arm around me to allow me to settle cozily against him. “Fiveminutes,” he said, in his warm, gravelly voice. “ThenIwant you to get into the sleeping bagBastianpicked up for you.”
“Mmmm.”Iclosed my eyes. “Tenminutes.”
Hischest vibrated in a soft chuckle. “Tenminutes, then.”
Iwoke much later, tucked into warmth withBastian’slarge frame curled around me.
Hisbreath warmed my neck, and his arm pinned me to his chest.Myeyelids were heavy.ButIforced myself to stay awake a moment to revel in this contact and in the comfort ofBee’ssoft snores and the collective warmth of the bodies in the room.Wewere surviving, and nothing was impossible if we stuck together.
Icaught movement by the door followed by the gleam of orange eyes, then nothing.
Mypulse spiked.
Whythe fuck wasJilyanawatching me sleep?
Chapter24
Dawncame quickly, and everyone packed and gathered, ready to make the trip to the bike store and the bus that waited there.
“Areyou certain you have the energy for this?”ShemaskedJilyana. “Wecan make room on the bus for the children if you can’t transport them to the safe zone.”
