Someone was coming up the stairs, the worn wood creaking softly under light footsteps.

A rush of fear went through me, I’d been kidnapped once when I’d been young but still old enough to remember and the memory now trickled down my spine, freezing my body. It’s not the same thing. You’re safe. You’re safe. The words tasted like ash in my mouth and I kept reminding myself that as I swung my legs off the bed and bolted to the door, swinging it open as hard as I could.

“HEY,” The footsteps stilled on the stairs at the sound of my voice. “THERE’S SOMEONE HERE. IF YOU’RE HERE TO…” if they were here to what? “WHATEVER YOU’RE HERE FOR GO AWAY BEFORE I SCREAM.” I braced myself, sucking in a deep breath.

“Don’t scream. I have sensitive ears,” a low voice drawled. The footsteps resumed once more.

I knew that voice.

Itarus came into view as he neared the landing. “They won’t be able to handle your screeching.”

The breath I was holding whoosed out of me in an instant, the fear knotting my gut gone. I cluched the doorframe to support me not trusting my shaking legs to do so.

“What are you doing here?” despite the edge in my voice I was glad to see him and not a complete stranger.

“That’s something I want to ask you,” he countered, reaching the last step. He came onto the landing, his crystal gaze raking me from head to toe.

“What’re you doing sleeping in my house?”