Serena woke slowly, the warm rays of sunlight filtering into the room.
For a minute, her eyes still felt heavy and her throat dry and sour.
Her eyelids continued to flutter, like they didn’t want to open yet…
When they finally opened, the world came back to her in a single tidal wave.
The ceiling above her was the first thing she could recognize, at least to a point.
A faint and bitter scent of herbs clung to the air.
She tried to inhale, when a sharp pain tore through her sides.
It was the exact same pain she felt when she tried to sit up.
Like her body was protesting against it..
“Easy.”
A voice from her side stopped her immediately.
Her gaze shifted slowly.
And found him.
Damien sat beside the bed, leaning forward slightly with his elbows resting on his knees.
His gaze jus
