Page 41 of Night So Silent
“I know there is.”
I blink. “What?”
“You’re safe here.” His voice is calm but resolute. “Just don’t open the door if I’m not here.”
“You mean there’s some creepy man skulking around your property? What for?”
“I wouldn’t call it aman.”
Is he serious right now?
“I thought you said there aren’t any werewolves here!”
“There aren’t.”
Of course I went straight to cryptids. I’m sure I sound nothing short of delusional now.
“Sorry,” I roll my eyes, “Sasquatch, yeti, the abominable snowman...”
“That’s Russia,” he deadpans, clearly enjoying my anxiety.
“Whatever!” I snarl. “You said you had no reason to lie to me, so please tell me what I’ve been seeing—but not seeing.”
Sergei glances across the room absently, considering whether to tell me whatever horror story I’ve been preparing for. Finally, his eyes wander back to me.
“It hasn’t been here long,” he begins. “It showed up on my cameras recently and I’ve been hunting it since then. I haven’t gotten areallygood look yet, just a dark shape,” he says with narrowed eyes. “But it won’t be long until it’s no longer a threat.”
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding since Sergei started to speak. So, evenhedoesn’t know what it is, but he’s planning on killing it—soon.I’m not a fan of hunting, but at this point, I hope Sergei puts a bullet in the skull of whatever’s been creeping around here and then sets it on fire.
“OK,” I sigh, not knowing what else to say on the matter.
“Any more concerns?” he asks, taking a sip from his mug.
“Yes, actually.”
Cryptids, wild animals, and prowlers aside, there’s something that’s been tugging at the back of my mind since getting out of bed this morning, something that’s cast a pall over this strange but exciting fantasy I’ve found myself in.
The buzzkill of the real world always finds a way in.
“Um…”Put your big girl panties on, Halsey.“When was the last time you were tested for sexually transmitted infections?”
I’m usually so responsible. I don’t mess around with birth control, and I also don’t go bareback with men whose sexual histories I’m not familiar with. Was Isocaught up in the moment that I just forgot to demand he use a condom? That’s so unlike me.
“I have never been tested,” Sergei replies with utter indifference.
My thighs clench, but not in the good way.
“Then how do you know you don't have an STI?” I practically whine.
“Because you're the only woman I've ever had sex with.”
All the air leaves the room…as well as my lungs.
What the ever-loving fuck?
“OK,” I finally croak. “Um, well, in that case, I don’t have any, either. Just so you know.”
“I know.”
