Page 69 of In Somnis

Fear keeps me frozen right where I am.

“That’s enough, Mom.” He throws me an apologetic look. “She’s… she didn’t mean⁠—”

“Watch out for the light,” Seraphine mumbles, and that’s when I reach my limit.

My heart is galloping, and air buzzes in my ears as I back toward the door. “I’m sorry,” I whisper as I open it without looking, but when I turn to flee, I slam straight into a solid wall of a body.

“Whoa, hey—” The wall catches my elbow to steady me. “You running from something or toward something? The technique needs work either way.”

I catalog the paint-splattered jeans and hoodie before my gaze finds Nevan’s. For half a second, there’s something raw in his expression—something exhausted and lost—but then it smooths over so fast I almost think I imagined it.

“Mom scared her,” Jasper offers helpfully from behind me.

With Nevan towering in front of me and the creepy vibes behind me, I’m feeling more like a trapped animal. When I’m about to give up all social niceties and make a true run for it, Nevan mutters to himself, then steps aside, leaving an opening for me.

“Come on,” he says, and I take his offer immediately.

He guides me back to the swing with a steady hand on my arm. When my breathing evens out enough for my eyes to focus, I realize I’m staring directly at Nevan’s crotch. I avert my eyes as he wraps a hand around the rope above mine and squats in front of me, close but not crowding.

His fingers have green and blue paint smudges. Is he an artist?

I glance at him, and with him this close and at eye level, I see there are dark circles under his eyes I hadn’t noticed before.

That isn’t one-bad-night tired. It’s older than that.

I know what old tired looks like.

“Breathe,” he murmurs, and his voice has gone softer, gentler. “You’re okay.”

I do as he says, pulling in a shaky breath. He smells like paint, cedarwood, and something sweet—cinnamon and sugar, maybe—and the combination is oddly grounding.

“I’m sorry,” I blurt. “I upset your mom.”

He blinks, then huffs out something like a laugh. “Yeah. You kinda have that effect on people.”

It’s meant to be a joke, I can hear it in his tone, but my bottom lip doesn’t get the memo and starts trembling.

“Shit. I’m sorry.” He lifts a hand toward my face, stopping just short of touching me. “Please don’t⁠—”

“I’m fine,” I lie, offering a smile. “Tell Jasper I’m sorry. I should go.”

“No.” It’s firm but not harsh. His hand settles on my shoulder, gentle pressure keeping me in place. “Stay for a minute. Please. I need to…” He rocks back on his heels, paint-stained fingers running through his hair. “Look, I-I owe you an apology. For yesterday. The crystal thing.” He glances toward the house, jaw working as if he’s choosing his words carefully. “It was my mom’s. From back when she was still….” He exhales a short, humorless laugh. “Well, she was never exactly normal.”

“Oh,” I breathe out.

“And I was already having a weird day. The chef quit, we are short-staffed, and then there’s this girl I’ve been making some questionable life choices about.” He grimaces. “Which does not excuse my behavior. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I’m sorry.”

My fingers curl around the chain at my throat. “I can give it ba⁠—”

“No.” He shakes his head. “Keep it. Please. Jasper gave it to you for a reason, and he doesn’t do anything without a reason, even if that reason is the vibes told me to.”

I smile. “He said it helps with nightmares, and apparently it does.”

“Oh, really? Even better. Lord knows somebody in this town should be sleeping well.”

“You’re not sleeping well?” I ask before I can stop myself.

“I’m fine,” he says with a practiced smile.