CHAPTER 7.5 Too Close for Crimson Promises

Veronica rolled beneath an unfamiliar pressure on her side.

She opened her eyes to discover Elizabeth lying next to her, looking at her with unblinking eyes.

".How long have you been staring?" Veronica groggily said, her voice still thick with sleep.

Elizabeth smiled wickedly. "Long enough to know you sleep more quickly when you dream of me."

"That's. creepy."

Elizabeth laughed low in her throat, then rolled closer, her fingers running up Veronica's arm.

"You say creepy," she whispered, "I say love."

Elizabeth moved before Veronica could speak, her weight bearing down on hers.

Her face against Veronica's, her breath warm on Veronica's skin.

"I couldn't murder you… not even if you tried to tell your mama," she gasped, her voice raw and barely soft.

"But if you did…" Her fingers traced along Veronica's cheek, halted at her jaw.

".I might reconsider."

Veronica's breath caught. "Elizabeth—"

Elizabeth silenced her by resting her head in the crook of her neck, breathing in deeply.

“You smell like fear,” she murmured. “I like it.”

Veronica lay frozen, unsure if moving would save her or seal her fate.

Elizabeth’s smile deepened. “Good girl. Stay quiet… and you’ll always be safe with me.”

With that, she shut her eyes, still lying on top of her, as though holding Veronica down for the entire night.