Cyber 25

Cyber

“Where’s Violet?” Iris' voice was strong as we stepped out the front door an hour later. Monster turned from his perch on the stairs, casting a glance behind him. The smile on his lips died at the looks on our faces.

I knew what he saw. The way Iris’ face was strained, her hand loose in mine. If I hadn't gripped it so tightly, she would have pulled away from me completely.

It had taken a lot for her to say the words that I had been dying to hear, and I had hurt her by not even acknowledging them. It wasn't even that I didn't want to say it back, because I did. I didn’t know what had stopped me.

“Asleep.” Monster’s eyes caught mine and his eyebrow arched in a silent question. “I put her on the sofa. Maggie is in there with her.”

“I should go and check on her.”

My hand tightened around hers. “She's fine, Iris. Let her sleep.”

Her eyes blazed in her head and for a second I thought she was going to rip her hand from mine. “I just want to check on my daughter, Cyber.”

“Our daughter.”