Page 117 of At the Mercy of Midnight
He pushed his blanket away and stood, creeping into the passageway until he stood before the slightly ajar door of her bedroom. Silas reached up and laid his palm on the door, pushing it open quietly.
He felt something ease in his chest when he saw her, laying in darkness on the bed, facing him on her side, armdraped above the covers. He toed forwards carefully, drawn to her by the inevitable pull of the tether between them. The bond always felt stronger near midnight, like the rope was pulled taut when apart, making the pain of being away from her sharper, more noticeable.
He swallowed, taking in her soft features, so smoothed out and peaceful in her sleep.
Silas settled gently on the edge of the bed, close but not touching, intending only to be there when the hour struck.
Amelia shifted, breaths turning uneven.
Silas frowned. He glanced at her, barely able to see in the dim glow of the moonlight from the single window. Her face twisted in a grimace, hand curling into a tight fist against the blanket.
Then she whimpered, and his heart jumped painfully in his chest. It was a soft, broken sound.
Silas stiffened when he realised it was happening again. She was having another nightmare.
He exhaled roughly, reaching out but stopping just short of touching her shoulder. He didn’t want to startle her, but she was still shifting, her breaths turning sharp, panicked. Her entire body jerked, her breath hitching on a sob.
Silas felt his chest tighten at the sound of her discomfort.
“Amelia,” he murmured, reaching for her now, his hand brushing her arm.
She flinched violently, twisting away, still locked in whatever dream held her captive. Silas made his own noise, a deep growl low in his throat.
“Amelia,” he said, firmer this time.
Her face contorted in fear, back arching from the bed.
Then, she was screaming. The raw and agonising sound ricocheted around his body.
Silas didn’t think on his next actions, unable to bear the sound of her anguish. He grabbed her shoulders, shaking her fervently. “Amelia. Wakeup!”
She gasped, her eyes flying open, wide, and wild, like she was still trapped in the dream. Amelia shot up towards him, a whimper escaping her throat as her hands found his chest, clutching roughly at his shirt.
“Hey, hey,” Silas said quickly, a hand at her shoulder while his other came to rest at the side of her neck, tilting her chin up so she would look at him. “It’s me. You’re safe. We’re at your friend’s house. Brinkley’s house. I’m right here with you, and you’re safe.”
Her breaths came fast and shallow, her pulse thrumming violently against his fingers where he held her. Her eyes darted around the room, unfocused, still searching for the nightmare.
She finally settled her gaze on him, and he saw the moment recognition flickered. Her eyes stuttered as she stared at him, and some of the tension leaked away from her rigid body.
“Finley,” she whispered, voice rough.
His hands tightened slightly, grounding her. “I’m here.” He tried for a smile, but he felt it come across shaky and false. “You know, youcancall me Silas. I think we’re past the surname thing now, don’t you?”
Her chest shuddered as she choked on a quiet laugh. Her hands, that always looked so dainty and fragile, held his shirt in tight fists between them.
“I don’t know,” she said, voice wobbly, but he could hear the attempt to inject some strength into it. “You’ve always been Finley to me. It would be weird to change.”
He shifted his thumb, brushing along the underside of her jaw. Her lips parted on a soft inhale.
“Perhaps I want to hear you say it,” he said, trying to keep his tone light, willing her pulse to steady, to let the tension she held on to ease away.
She kept a firm grip on his shirt, but seemed to relax slightly, her forearms coming to rest against his chest, close enough that if there were better light he might be able to count the dusting of freckles he knew sat on either side of her nose.
“Some kink of yours?” she asked, a spark returning to her dark eyes.
He felt a smirk rise at the corner of his mouth, but as he searched her gaze, his half-smile dropped slowly away. She noticed, her face turning serious as they looked at one another.
Silas gave a slight shake of his head. “Only with you.”
