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After we discussed it for the next half-hour, River ca so trapped there I had my doubts about that, but since I wasn’t ready to share any theories ofthe hours that followed, I kept expecting the sounds to return and surroundit too But I did not experience it again

As aited, although I kept close to River, I foundto draw her closer to me, lower my face inches above the curve of her neck and breathe in deeply

About an hour before sunset, River wanted to rest on the bed I didn’t have a choice but to lie with her on the mattress She slid beneath the sheets and bunched up the blankets around her, and then I settled next to her, close enough that her knees alht disturb her I intended to re I was surprised that she was the one who drew nearer still Raising her head from the mattress, she shuffled closer to ainst ht," sheyou, I’ll notice if you slip away"

She was right, of course I was still a wild animal around human blood The closer I was to her, the better I just hadn’t wanted to overstep a boundary bynearer to her myself Now that she had broached it, I slid an arainst her hip

"I think you’ll definitely notice if I slip away now"

She chuckled, then closed her eyes, apparently coainst the top of her head, I could feel her breathing grow deeper and steadier, until finally she was asleep

I remained still, careful not to wake her as I looked out of the atching the river bank

Once the boat began to slow, it was time for us to move on I looked down at River’s face She had an expression of serenity, her pillowy lips flushed I paused for a moment to admire her beauty, then removed my hand from her hip and brushed her shoulder When she still didn’t stir, I shook her gently

Her eyelids flickered open, her turquoise gaze fixing ondark lashes

"H"

She shivered a little as she pushed the blankets away from her, and then stood up Her eyes were distant as she brushed a hand over her forehead and swayed slightly on the spot She looked in a daze

"I had a… strange drea her brows

"What?"

"My mother, two sisters and brother were in it They hadin a nice apartment And my brother… He’s nineteen and severely autistic, but in the dream, I… I had an actual conversation with hi in the air as she continued standing, lost in her own thoughts Then she shook herself and snapped out of it She walked to the table, poured herself a glass of water, and downed it Then she took my hand and we moved toward the balcony and looked out The boat had almost stopped and there was a small harbor nearby