There was a dull pounding in Astrid’s head when she woke, and she groaned. Her body was sore and the bed beneath her was hard, as if she’d been sleeping on the ground rather than a mattress.
Wait. Astrid’s eyes snapped open and she bolted upright, taking in the forest around her. Panic thudded in her chest, intensifying as a figure moved toward her. She couldn’t make out the person’s details through the fog around them.
“Astrid,” the figure said, coming into view and crouching in front of her. It was a woman with dark skin and braided black hair, a strong jaw, and kind eyes. “My name is Nirvana.”
“You’re a Shadow Guard,” Astrid said quietly. “You were there in the hall.”
“Yes,” Nirvana replied. She frowned, studying Astrid’s face. “You really don’t remember anything?”
Astrid hesitate
