A cough rose in my throat, hot and sudden. I pressed a hand to my mouth to stifle it, spinning on my heel.
I fled, trying to be silent, but the attempt was a failure. The deck was carpeted, but the thick pile couldn’t entirely swallow the sound of my panicked footsteps.
In my periphery, I saw William’s head snap in my direction, his sharp senses catching the whisper of my retreat.
I didn’t wait to see if he’d follow.
My heart hammered
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