Chapter 8
“Hannes?” The whispered word is followed by soft fingers brushing away hair spilling down my face. I force open my eyes and Mattis’ face swims into focus.
“You’re back.” I fling my arm around his neck and pull him down until his cheek rests against mine. “Was worried.” Touching him again chases away the gnawing in my stomach and his presence fills the emptiness inside me. I hum.
“I didn’t mean to stay away for so long.”
“What time is it?”
“Just after midnight.”
Talking to him clears the sleepy fog in my brain and I loosen my grip on his neck. He grabs my hand and lifts my wrist to his face, rubbing his nose on the usual spot. Then he inhales and the tense lines around his eyes disappear.
“Your mom was here.”
He nods. “I know. I snuck out the back when I saw her. I was jus
