Page 177 of Sweet Nightmare

My fingers tighten around the glass. “That’s good news.”

Mika turns to look at me. “That was terrible.”

I frown. “What was?”

“Your attempt at sounding happy.”

“I am happy.”

No, I’m not.

“No, you’re not.”

I narrow my eyes and she takes a step closer. “You’ve been trying to leave since the moment you arrived,” she says. “Now you finally can, and you look miserable.”

“I do not.”

“You do.”

I take another sip and say nothing.

Outside, sunlight spills across endless fields of snow. For the first time since arriving at this gorgeous winter prison, the sky is completely blue.

The storm is over. My world is waiting for me.

So why don’t I want to go back?

This isn’t my home. This isn’t my country. This isn’t my life.

And yet, leaving feels…tragic.

Leaving him feels…wrong.

“Artemis.”

I blink.

Mika is watching me suspiciously now.

“Where did you just disappear to?”

I take another sip of water. “I was thinking.”

She raises an eyebrow like she doesn’t believe me. “We don’t have to leave immediately.”

“What?”

“Yes, the roads are opening but that doesn’t mean we have to sprint out of here.”

I stare at her.

A knowing smile curves her lips.

She knows.

Of course she does.

Silence settles between us as I consider her words.