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"Of course" He stepped forward, obviously happy to have so up some rice and soup That should ell"

"Thank you"

Basil shtly, bowed, and then he was off I stood there for a moment and then closed the door I turned around The air punched out of ht up, clutching the blanket to her chest Her eyes ide, and there was a faint flush of pink on her unbruised cheek Her gaze was on my face and then it dropped to htened This ti like the last time she woke up

Relief almost cut my knees out from underneath me, and I actually stu how stupid that sounded because she was, in fact, awake And she had been awake earlier

Her throat worked "I was dreaht that this was a dreaain "You’re really here, Josie You’re really safe now"

Her eyes shut for a hter Pain flickered over her face and when she reopened her eyes, there was a gli Within a heartbeat, I was sitting on the side of the bed, next to her

Josie jerked, eyes widening "Thatthat was fast"

Fast was an understatement I reotten the chance to talk about any of that "How are you feeling?"

She hesitated for a aze flickered to the curtained s "How long have I’ve been asleep?"

"A couple of hours"

Her forehead creased "Youyou haven’t left, have you?"

"No" I took a deep breath "I know you’re mad at me You want me to--"

"I’ht it was ination at first "I iving up on that I just" She slowly shook her head "I’m just not mad"

I stared at her in disbelief "How can you not be mad at me? You should be furious You should--" She should hatemyself to say that out loud "I don’t kno you can’t be angry"

"Maybe I will be again later" A treh her as she lowered her hand to the blanket

My chest hollowed "Are you in a lot of pain?"

"Not too ers tightened around the edge of the blanket

"I see the bite marks I can tell you were fed on a lot You’re bruised" I paused "All over" Anger beat atto you I can’t see?"

Her eyes squeezed shut, and I barely had a wisp of restraint left Outside, there was a flash of intense white light and then thunder boomed Her eyes flew open "Youthe blanket "Hyperionhe threatened it, but he didn’t--didn’t get the chance For the usted by me"

I didn’t feel much relief Some rapists didn’t have to like or even be attracted to someone to rape them It wasn’t about any of that, and all I could hope was that Josie wasn’t hiding so It was obvious he’d found other ways to torture her and he had, but soer cooled There’d be no storm outside "There is a lot we need to talk about"

Josie stared at aze flickered around the roo" She sed hard "When I woke up earlier, I was confused andI just don’t knohat is happening"