Gordon stared at the woman beside him for a long second, his eyes unfocused, as if she were a reflection that might vanish if he blinked. She noticed the look and frowned.
"Gordon… what's wrong?" She pulled her hand away from his chest.
"You're scaring me."
Realization flickered through him. He forced a breath, then another, and managed a weak smile.
"I'm sorry, dear." He reached out to pat her back, but she leaned away from his touch.
He didn't take offense as he scratched the back of his head, trying to steady himself.
"It was just a nightmare."
Valeria studied him, suspicion creeping into her calm green eyes.
"Then what happened in this nightmare," she asked quietly, "to make you scream like that?"
Gordon opened his mouth to answer. Then he froze.
A shape stood beyond the bedroom window, a darker shadow against the night. His heart lurched at the sight. As he lost his balance and fell backward off the bed with a dull thud.
