Gently, he keeps caressing the back of my hand.
"Go to sleep, bad witch," he whispers.
"I'm... okay..."
He chuckles and brings my hand to his lips to kiss it gently. I should slap myself for falling asleep with that guy half-naked next to me... It feels like a crime.
"Okay, they are done," he suddenly whispers.
I re-open my eyes. I hadn't noticed they were half-closed already. Liam comes closer, wrapping an arm around me.
"I'm really letting you off easy," he chuckles.
"You're the one getting... calls," I yawn. "Who was it?"
"My older brother... Sadly, his voice is too strong for me to ignore. He wanted to ask what happened at the north border today, some other wolves told him about that other witch."
"Oh... What about me?"
He sighs, and gently kisses my forehead, coming closer.
"...I didn't tell him you're with me. I think your friend Kelsi lied and said you're back at the apartment because they seem to believe that."
Did she? What about Ben, then? Is he lying with her? Those two idiots... I chuckle. Now that I'm not with them, I realize those two have been a big part of my life for the last few days. The two little snitches. I close my eyes again, but Liam suddenly moves. I open an eye to see him get under the covers.
"You don't have a right to be cold when you make me dress like this," I mumble.
"It's an extra precaution. I'd roll myself like a burrito if I could..."
I chuckle, but I know he's half-kidding. An extra sheet between us probably wouldn't be enough to tame the big bad wolf in him if he truly wanted to do anything... I close my eyes once more, and feel Liam coming back closer to wrap an arm around me, the other sliding under my pillow. Gosh, I'm snuggled against his chest, cozy and warm. Heaven must feel something like this, or it's a scam...
I'm in a bubble.
A big, pink bubble. I feel a bit strange. It's warm. I feel like I'm floating in something... something like water. There are lights dancing around. But there are sounds too.
Someone is screaming. I want to cry. The voice of that woman screaming in pain is making me so sad. I want to cry, but I can't. I can't move, I can't talk. I can't do anything. I want to stop this... I want to help her. I'm sorry I'm so weak. I'm sorry. I want to help you, I really want to.
I hear those screams again, and something violent hits me. It burns... It burns so much, I'm suffocating. All of my body burns, it slowly disappears. Somebody help me. Somebody let me out of here. Help me. Help me. I can't breathe, I'm hurt. It's so painful. I'm sorry. I'm sorry...
"Mara! Mara!"
I suddenly open my eyes, Liam holding both of my arms, looking panicked.
"Mara, for fuck's sake, breathe!"
I open my mouth, and suddenly, a big airflow comes in. I take several deep breaths, realizing I was out of air until just then. I keep gasping and trying to calm myself. Liam looks crazy worried, rubbing my arms and not letting go of me for a single second.
"W-what happened?"
"I think you were having... a nightmare. You kept crying, and suddenly, you stopped breathing. I freaked out..."
"S-sorry..."
"What were you dreaming about?"
I look at him, a bit out of it. I need to wipe my eyes, I realize they are wet, so are my cheeks... I take deep breaths again, and take off the sweater. I'm drenched in sweat, but Liam helps me get it over my head.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have made you wear so much clothes to sleep... You probably had a nightmare because you were too hot..."
