_Lyla’s POV_
Darkness surrounded me. I felt like I was floating, lost in a strange place between sleep and wakefulness. My body was heavy, and my mind was hazy, as if I had sunk too deep into a dream and couldn’t escape.
I tried to move, but I couldn’t. My limbs felt weak. My fingers were numb. A soft warmth wrapped around me. It was familiar and comforting. The scent of something woodsy and masculine filled my senses. It smelled like Aaron.
I wasn’t alone.
A strange awareness crept over me, making my skin prickle. Someone was near. I could feel their presence beside me, close—too close. My heart pounded in my chest, but my body refused to react.
I forced my eyes open, but my vision was blurred. Shadows danced around me, and the room felt different, almost unreal. I blinked slowly, tr
