Chapter 132

"...Kael. Are you asleep?"

"..."

Steady, even breathing settled warm against my ear.

"What in the world. You're actually asleep? Hugo's reading was that effective?"

No answer came.

And in the meantime, he was extraordinarily heavy. When the full weight of my husband — solid muscle through and through — settled entirely onto me, I felt rather like the mythological figure condemned to bear the world on his shoulders.

"Nngh!"

I strained to hold him upright and looked frantically around. Everyone was asleep but me.

Then, all at once, every lantern illuminating the garden went out at the same moment.

Darkness, complete and immediate.

That was when it began. My body started trembling with fear.

A coward by nature, I broke into a cold sweat in an instant.

"What's happening! I'm scared! Kael, please wake up!"

I thumped his back with both fists. He didn't so much as stir.

"Something…