Page 112 of Fighting For Light

52

Kai

A cry startles meawake, and I shoot up in bed, looking for the threat. Cordi’s eyes are closed, and her hands are fisting the sheets. She cries out again and kicks her feet. She’s having a nightmare.

“Please,” she says quietly.

I reach for her face, cupping her cheek gently.

Her eyes spring open, and they blink rapidly, slowly trying to focus on me.

“It’s just me, gem. I’m here,” I whisper. Her chest heaves, and tears brim the edges of her eyes. “It was a nightmare. It’s okay, you’re safe.”

She blinks again, willing her tears away. “I’m sorry I woke you up,” she rasps.

I kiss her forehead. “Are you okay?”

Cordi sniffles, and I pull her into my body. “I love you,” I say into her hair.

She nuzzles her head into my chest and sighs. “Is it done? Is it over?”

I tense a little before forcing myself to relax, and she picks up on it immediately.

“I’ll take that as a no.”

“We need to stay here for a bit. I think it would be the safest option.” I tighten my arms around her.

“I missed you,” she says quietly.

“I’ve been here the whole time, baby.”

“No, you’ve been downstairs. I missed you holding me when we went to bed. I…I needed you last night. I know you had to do what you had to do, and I made it worse, but I needed you.”

I sigh, rubbing my hand up and down her spine. “You didn’t make anything worse. I’m sorry, but when you need me, and I don’t know it, I need you to tell me. I know you very well, but I can’t read your mind, baby. Trust me, I’ve tried.”

“I don’t expect you to. I’ll ask next time.”

“Good girl,” I mutter into her hair.

“What time is it?” she asks. I stutter for an answer because

I assumed she would ask me about who we have in the basement. I let her go and roll over to the nightstand to check my phone. “It’s four in the afternoon.”

“Wow, I slept for a while.”

I roll back over and clasp her face again. “I’m sure you needed it.”

“Kai, what are we supposed to do next?”

I take a deep breath and toss my leg over hers. Her body fits perfectly into mine, and her belly is protected between us. It makes my heart stutter. “Well, like I said, we’re going to stay here for a bit. I need to update you and Mom about what we found out. Which, unfortunately, isn’t a lot.”

“That…sucks,” she mutters.

“It does,” I agree, sliding my hand down her back, and she scoots closer to me. “Is there something you want to talk about, gem?” I ask, preparing myself for the blow.

“How do you do that?”

“What? You mean, how I know you want to talk about something but won’t say it?” My chest pulls, and my nose burns. She nods her head against me. “Are you mad at me?”