Page 68 of Let Sleeping Vampires Lie

His grip on my hand warmed further.

My shoulders slumped back against the headboard. The fight went out of me, not all of it, but enough.

“Fine,” I said. “You win this round.”

He smiled. It was small and tired and real. “I’m not keeping score.”

“We both know that’s a lie.”

He paused. “All right. One to me.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t get cocky.”

“It’s a little late for that.”

He didn’t move away.

I didn’t pull back.

For a moment, the world beyond the room receded—Valerian, the Pentacoris, the auction. It all went quieter at the edges, leaving just us and the steady rhythm of borrowed peace.

Eventually, I said, “Raven will need me soon. The clan will, too.”

“I know,” he said. “And you’ll be there. But you’re going to rest first.”

I arched a brow. “Orders?”

“Requests,” he said. Then his mouth tipped at one corner. “Strongly worded requests.”

Despite myself, I smiled.

“Lie down,” he added. “You’re swaying, and you’re sitting still.”

Only then did I realize how much effort holding myself upright cost. I hesitated—some old, ingrained instinct against letting anyone see me vulnerable flaring up.

He didn’t push.

He just waited.

Slowly, I eased down, sliding further under the blanket until my head found the pillow again. My fingers stayed curled in his.

“Better?” he asked.

“Ask me after twelve hours of sleep,” I muttered.

“I’ll be here,” he said.

My eyes flicked to his. “You don’t have to stay.”

“I know,” he replied. “I’m staying anyway.”

This time, I didn’t argue.

The tension in my body loosened one coil at a time, my breathing slowing. Fatigue tugged at me, but it didn’t feel like drowning now. More like sinking into deep water with someone’s hand locked in mine.

“Con?” I murmured, already halfway to sleep.

“Yes.”