Melissa’s POV.
I slowly regained consciousness. At first, all I saw was darkness. My eyelids felt heavy, as if massive stones were weighing them down. I tried to open my eyes, but I immediately squeezed them shut again with a pained hiss as the bright light blinded me.
I drew in a shaky breath, and an unfamiliar scent filled my nose. It wasn’t the smell of a damp, moldy cave, nor was it the suffocating stench of blood. It was the scent of freshly washed blankets, dried medicinal herbs, and wood burning from a nearby fireplace.
I slowly opened my eyes again. I squinted, willing my eyes to adjust, until my surroundings gradually came into focus.
The first thing I noticed was that the ceiling above me was made of polished wood. Along one side of the room were large shelves filled with gla
