A R I A
Everything hurts.
My chest. My head. My legs. Even my skin feels bruised, like I've been dragged across pavement.
There's a high-pitched beeping somewhere, steady and distant, and something cold pressing against my inner elbow. My body feels like it's made of lead, and for a moment, I can't tell if I'm awake or still trapped in whatever nightmare I was pulled from.
I try to open my eyes, but they only flutter.
Something soft brushes against my forehead—fingers. Warm. Gentle.
Then a voice.
"Aria?"
It's Lucian.
That's enough to make my eyes open, just a little.
Everything's hazy at first. A white ceiling. A fluorescent light overhead. The faint smell of antiseptic and something sterile. A heart monitor beeping beside me.
Clinic. I'm in a clinic.
Lucian leans into view, an
