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“I can stay with you, but I cannot sleep in your bed,” Solon told her.
“Oh…is that because you, uh, ‘Renounced your Claim’ on me?” Abbey asked in a small voice.
“I’m afraid so,” he rumbled. “But if it would comfort you, I can sleep on the floor by the side of your bed to make you feel safe.”
“All right.” Abbey nodded unhappily. She didn’t like the idea that he couldn’t be in bed with her, but she’d rather have the big Monstrum with her than let him leave.
They went into the house, which was eerily quiet. Abbey found herself jumping at every little noise.
“Solon,” she said, wrapping her arms around herself with a shiver. “Would you mind checking to be sure all the doors and windows are locked? I know he’s dead but I still feel so…so vulnerable.”
“Of course I’ll check,” he rumbled.
Abbey wished that he would offer her a hug too—to comfort her. But he simply went through the house checking the doors and windows as she had requested.
“Everything is secure,” he said when he finished. “It’s late—do you want to rest now?”
“I think I want a shower first,” Abbey said. “I’m probably still dirty from hiding under the bed.”
“Of course. Take your time,” he rumbled.
Abbey wished he would put his arms around her or call her “lelka” again as he had when she had first crawled out from under the bed. But the big Monstrum was still keeping his distance and there seemed to be a wall between them she couldn’t breach. So she just nodded and went to take a hot shower.
She put Spex to bed in his nest and the little Eye-pet gave a deep sigh and started making tiny, squeaky snoring sounds almost at once. Abbey didn’t blame him—it had been a stressful night—no wonder the little guy was all worn out.
After being sure he was safely tucked in, she went to the bathroom and took a long, hot shower and washed her hair. She scrubbed herself all over too—she wanted to get every bit of the awful night off of her skin.
But while she could scrub her body, she couldn’t so easily wash everything out of her mind. The memory of being trapped under the bed, feeling sure she was about to die was still with her as she dried her hair and then put on a long cotton t-shirt which was one of her favorite sleep outfits.
When she came out of the bathroom, Solon was waiting for her.
“Would you rather I sleep by the side of your bed or in the living area to guard the door?” he asked.
I’d rather have you sleeping beside me in bed! Abbey thought…but didn’t dare say out loud. It seemed clear that while Solon still cared about her safety, the big Monstrum didn’t have the same feelings he’d had for her before. Otherwise why would he be so distant?
“By my bed is fine,” she said stiffly. “Er…thank you for staying with me tonight.”
“Of course,” he rumbled. “I want you to feel safe.”
“Thank you,” Abbey said again, and then there was nothing to do but turn and go into her bedroom with the big Monstrum and try to get some sleep.
43
ABBEY
Abbey lay in her bed feeling lonelier than she ever had in her life. She could hear Solon’s deep breathing, coming from the floor at the side of her bed. He had taken one of her pillows and a spare blanket and he was sleeping down there, just a few feet away.
He might as well be miles away, Abbey thought sadly. It seemed that though the big Monstrum was willing to save her and keep her safe, he wanted nothing to do with touching or holding her anymore. She ached to feel his warm arms around her, to bury her face in his fur and breath in his Bonding Scent…but no—he had Renounced his Claim in her, whatever that meant—so now they were nothing but strangers.
At last, after tossing and turning for what felt like hours, she finally drifted off into an uneasy sleep…
“Abbey? Where are you, babe? I’m coming for you…” The horribly familiar voice echoed in her ears and Abbey looked around frantically, searching for the one who was calling her…the one who was stalking her.
She knew instinctively that she was in danger—knew that if the man who was looking for her managed to find her, he would kill her.
He has a knife! He wants to stab me—to cut me into little pieces!
Her heart thudded in her chest and fear crammed an icy fist down her throat. Away—she had to get away from him! She had to hide—but where?
