Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 471

Sylvia slept fitfully, tossing and turning, haunted by a gnawing sense of dread- like there was a guillotine hanging over her head.

Somewhere between dreams and waking, she felt a gentle touch on her cheek. Still half-asleep, she blinked up at the man leaning over her, his fingertips tracing her jaw. That's when she realized: this had to be a dream. Only in her dreams could she face Rupert with anything close to calm.

She stared at him, mumbling, "My stomach's killing me."

The words barely left her lips before she curled up, knees to her chest.

Rupert brushed his thumb over the split in her lip, scolding softly, "Still getting yourself in trouble, huh?"

Sylvia shook her head, suddenly meek as a lamb.

His hand paused for a beat, his eyes darkening as he studied her face. Then, without another word, he pulled her gently against his chest. His hand pressed against her stomach, warm and steady, rubbing slow circles.

She had no idea how long they stayed like that. Finally, Rupert leaned down, his voice a low rumble against her ear. "Feeling any better?"

"Yeah,” she whispered, shivering as his breath tickled her skin. She reached up to scratch at her ear and winced as her arm brushed a raw, stinging patch.

Her hand barely lowered before Rupert caught it, his grip firm but not harsh. He started rolling up her sleeve, and though Sylvia instinctively tried to pull away, he was too strong. Still, if this was a dream, she figured she might as well let it play out.

was real. No one

her sleeve, eyes flickering as he took in the red, angry marks crisscrossing her arm. He grabbed the ointment from her nightstand, squeezed some onto his fingers, and dabbed it gently

sting made Sylvia recoil, but Rupert held her hand tight,

and suddenly Sylvia's

Rupert frowned. "Still hurts?"

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she nodded, hard. "It hurts. It

But the tighter he held her, the more suffocated she felt—like a

tears, Sylvia pleaded, half-asleep, "Please... just let me go,

set, his arms

dragged her under, and she slipped back into a restless

and picked up the ointment tube.

crossed the room to the window and dialed

unusual happen when Sylvia was at the hospital

"...No, not really."

Rupert's voice was

allergy. She scratched herself in ber sleep, so they suggested she get an allergy test. She wasn't thrilled,

"Alright. I'm hanging up."

stopped him. "You're about to get engaged, man. Isn't this a little... inappropriate? Maybe