Chapter 9 #2
Urie taps the screen of his tablet, shutting it off. “That’s what we want to find out.”
I look at the empty spot on the counter where the note was. “They called me Sunflower. Nobody knows that name. It means someone from my past found me.”
He looks at me. “We’ll find them, Zora. I promise. You’re not alone.”
The promise should make me feel better, but it only reminds me of how much I need them.
I live in a house built by strangers. I have men who watch my pulse while I sleep.
The thought makes my heart race again. Urie notices the spike on his tablet.
He puts a hand on the counter near mine.
He doesn’t touch me, but I feel the warmth of his presence.
“Focus, Zora. In through the nose. Out through the mouth. Just like this.”
I follow his lead. I try to push the image of the fire out of my head. I try to forget the note. But the smell of the cedar still hangs in the air. It reminds me that someone knows my secret. Someone wants me to feel afraid. I look at Urie and hope he can really keep the ghosts away.
My fingers dig into the edge of the marble island.
The air system hums with a low sound. It slowly clears the scent of the campfire from the room.
The words scrawled on that card keep looping in my mind.
Left someone behind to burn. The accusation cuts through me.
It suggests I possessed a choice I don’t remember having.
“I don’t want to be alone tonight." My voice sounds small in the quiet room.
Urie nods. “I understand. I'm sure Sawyer will—"
"No!" I bring my hand up to cover my mouth. I didn't mean to shout.
He leans back from me with wide eyes. "Do you have an issue with Sawyer?"
I swallow hard. "I just… can you stay instead?
" I look at the big grey sofa in the living area. Usually, I find it stylish and modern. Right now, it looks too far away. A sudden need for physical contact hits me. I don’t understand it.
Usually, I keep people at a distance. I value my space.
But tonight, the air feels thin and the shadows are tall.
“Can you stay with me? In the nesting room?”
I look at his hands. They stay relaxed on the counter. He doesn’t have the aggressiveness that makes Sawyer feel like a threat. I trust the man who checks my pulse.
“You can say no,” I add quickly. I twist the belt of my robe. “I just... I can’t shake the feeling of that shadow. staring at me I need to know you are right there. Not in another room.”
Urie hesitates for a second. He looks toward the foyer, then back at me.
He adjusts his glasses. “Our rules say we should stay professional. But a stress spike during sleep can lead to a crisis. I want to keep a close eye on your vitals tonight.” He stands up and gestures toward the hallway.
“I won’t take the bed. I can lie on the floor of the nesting room.
I’ll stay close enough, but I’ll give you your space. ”
I feel a bit of the tension leave my chest. “Thank you, Urie. Really.”
I lead him back to my nest and he closes the doors behind us. I go to the wall of blankets and pull down a few for him to use as a bed, along with some pillows.
Urie takes the blanket and pillow from me. His fingers brush mine. His skin feels warm. He doesn’t pull away quickly. He offers a small, reassuring smile.“Go back to your nest, Zora. Try to get some sleep. I’ll stay right here.”
I crawl back onto the bed and pull the blanket up to my chin.
The fairy lights still flicker. They make the room feel safe.
I watch Urie. He lays the blanket out on the stone floor near the foot of the platform.
He takes off his white doctor’s coat and folds it neatly.
He stays in his charcoal uniform. He lies down, using the pillows I gave him.
I lie here and stare at the ceiling. listening to the building settle.
The wind on the glass. The fear of the note remains, but the presence of the man on the floor keeps it from consuming me.
I feel like a fraud. I sell a life of curated safety to five hundred thousand people.
I tell them how to secure their homes. Yet, I can’t even sleep without a stranger on my floor.
I drift into a light, fitful sleep. I don’t dream of the fire this time.
The boys stand in a line, their faces blurry as I try to make them out.
Morning light eventually clears the neighboring high-rises. It casts long, pale lines across the floor. I blink, my eyes feeling heavy and gritty. There's a strange weight against my side. A steady heat radiates through my silk robe.
I shift my head. My heart skips a beat. I lie on the cold stone floor. I find myself curled up against Urie’s chest. My head rests in the crook of his shoulder. One of my hands clutches the fabric of his charcoal shirt.
Urie stays asleep. His breathing remains deep and slow. One of his arms lies draped over my waist, holding me close. A soft hint of pine and mint comes off him. He smells so good.
Confusion hits me. I have no memory of getting out of bed.
I don’t remember walking across the room in the dark or lying next to him on the floor.
I stay still. I don’t want to wake him and have to explain why I crawled toward him in my sleep.
My body seems to have made a choice my mind can’t track.
I look at his face. Without the glasses, he looks younger. The ridges of his blonde hair look messy. He looks like a person, not just a doctor. There's a strange pull toward him. It scares me more than the shadow.
The sun grows brighter, turning the room a soft, hazy gold. I know I should move and get back onto the bed before he wakes up; to maintain the professional distance he mentioned. But my body refuses to cooperate. I feel safe here. The noise in my head has stopped.
Here, on the floor with a man I barely know, I feel like I can breathe.
Why do I feel like I'm reacting to him like I would an Alpha? Something about him calls to me on a deeper level, and I have no idea why.