~Samantha~
I was maybe three seconds away from face-planting into my pillow when my bedroom window opened.
Not creaked open. Not slowly slid. Just opened, like someone had decided locks and basic home security were optional.
My hand was halfway to the knife I kept in my nightstand when Killian climbed through.
"I could have killed you, what the fuck, Killian?!" I was on my feet, knife out, heart hammering.
"It's me." He held up his hands. "Don't stab me."
"Give me one good reason why not." I didn't lower the knife. "Normal people use doors, Killian. And maybe, I don't know, call first or text?"
"Couldn't risk it." He looked awful. Pale. Shadows under his eyes like he hadn't slept in days. His clothes were dirty, torn in places, and when he moved I caught a whiff of something that smelled like rotting meat mixed with sulfur.
Shadow corruption.
"What happened to you?" I put the knife down but didn't relax.
