Chapter 9 The Herb

• I shifted slowly, careful not to make a sound.
• Paxton was still asleep, his chest rising and falling steadily beside me in the bed, his arm draped loosely over my waist, his breath warm against the back of my neck. The knot of fear twisted inside my stomach, but I forced myself to stay calm, to keep my breathing steady as I carefully lifted his arm and slid out from beneath the covers.
• For a brief, terrifying moment, I thought he might wake up. My heart pounded in my chest, my pulse thrumming in my ears as I stood there, frozen, waiting for any sign that he was stirring. But Paxton didn’t move. He stayed still, lost in whatever dreams filled his mind, leaving me alone in the pale light of dawn.