After going back and forth like this several times, utterly drained and with her nerves stretched taut, Josie somehow ended up leaning against the wall and falling fast asleep in Jude Sheffield's arms sometime after midnight.
When her consciousness gradually returned and she felt the warm body beside her and a breathing rhythm that wasn't her own, she jumped, her eyes flying open as she looked to her side.
The worst-case scenario she had pictured hadn't happened.
Jude Sheffield was already awake, lying on his side and watching her without blinking.
His face was still pale from the blood loss, but his eyes were much clearer. A faint, satisfied smile, like that of a survivor who had cheated death, played on his lips.
"Sister… I pulled through." Though his voice was still a bit hoarse, it was no longer a mere whisper.
The weight on Josie's heart finally lifted. She let out a long sigh of relief, her voice tinged with lingering fear. "You really… you scared me to death!"
