Page 45 of Eclipse Sector

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Would you prefer “Prince Cillian”?

Don’t tell me what to do. You lost that right when you broke my heart.

Fuck you, Alpha Cillian.

Stop bothering me.

Stop growling at me.

Stop existing.

Stop haunting my dreams at night.

The list was endless. Each statement had percolated through my mind during my shower and continued to do so now as I lay down on the couch.

If only my brain had an off switch.

The entire evening scrawled across my mind as I closed my eyes.

The flight to Glacier Sector. Ashlyn’s weird behavior. Me trying to write in my journal. The welcome party. Ransom’s soft dominance as he’d stood beside me without saying much. Cillian’s not-so-soft dominance as he’d basically challenged Prince Lykos.

The words I’d exchanged with Cillian in this igloo.

The words I wished I had said in return.

The words I was glad I hadn’t said in return.

I punched the pillow beside my head as I tried to get more comfortable.

Stop,I told my brain.Just stop. I need to sleep.

Ransom had asked me to go ice-skating with him tomorrow, something I’d never done before.Maybe it’ll be fun,I thought.Or maybe I’ll break my neck.

Good thing I’m basically immortal.

Oh my Gods, stop thinking.

La. La. La.

I pictured Ransom and his gentle smile.Ice-skating will be fun. I mean, it’s going to be absolutely freezing. But… but I’ll like it.

I have to like it.

I have to like this environment. It’s my future. Not Cillian. Not Blood Sector.

Night Sector.

I can do this.

I can do this.

I can do this.

The chant echoed in my head, drowning out my uncertainties.

Or so I’d hoped.

But when I finally dreamt, it was of a time long ago. A time when I’d been cold. Alone. Frightened.And nearly dead…

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