Chapter 36

Alcina can’t sleep.

Try as she might, her mind races along with her pulse, her eyes blinking bright and wide up at the ceiling, long after Brendan has fallen to slumber beside her. For a while, she tries, clenching her eyes shut and trying to time her breathing along to Brendan’s.

But something- something in her blood pounds.

It feels like an itch, all along her skin, as though she were too large, suddenly, for her skin.

As though something isn’t right.

No.

As though something is right.

For the first time in her entire life, Alcina feels something settles.

Something settled - and at the same time, like something has awakened, demanding payment in her blood, deep inside of her. From the center of her chest, something yearns to come undone. It feels like there’s a spark of electricity sizzling just underneath the surface.

It makes her feel wound up.

It nearly makes Alcina feel like she’s going to vibrate out of her skin.

Finally, at two in the morning, she gives up.

And she gives in. Sh