**Elena**
I woke up choking on my own breath.
My chest hurt. My head was pounding. My eyes stung like I’d cried for hours.
Was I dreaming?
Please tell me I was dreaming.
It was just a nightmare
Please.
But then I heard her.
“My Queen… my Queen…”
Ivana’s voice. Close. Shaky.
I blinked hard. My vision was all over the place—blurry, flashing lights, white ceiling, sharp pain shooting through my skull.
“Ivana?” I croaked, barely recognizing my own voice. “What… what happened?”
She didn’t answer.
Just wrapped her arms around me.
And the moment she touched me—pain exploded in my body.
“Ahh!” I cried out, flinching.
She pulled back fast. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry, my Queen!”
My thoughts were scrambled. I tried to piece things together.
Why does it hurt so much?
Why can’t I thin
