Rhyker’s POV
The world came back to me slowly, a hazy, throbbing fog that clouded my mind.
My head pounded, each pulse a brutal reminder of the blow I’d taken.
Cold stone pressed against my cheek as I tried to open my eyes, the faint taste of blood lingering on my tongue.
I forced myself to focus, to push past the pain, willing my vision to clear. Gradually, the shapes around me sharpened, the darkness resolving into the dim, stark outline of a room.
I was on the ground, bound, the rough bite of rope digging into my wrists.
Instinctively, I struggled against the restraints, feeling my muscles strain, but the bonds held tight, refusing to yield.
A low growl escaped my throat, frustration and anger welling up inside me, as memories of the ambush crashed back in waves.
The crowd
