I woke to silence.
Not the heavy silence that had haunted my dreams for weeks.
Not the silence that came before the Hollow whispered.
This one was... peaceful.
For a long moment, I simply lay there, afraid to move.
Afraid that if I opened my eyes, I'd wake back in the tunnel.
Back beneath the mountain.
Back in the Hollow's grasp.
Then I heard it.
A heartbeat.
Steady.
Strong.
Familiar.
"Lila?"
Draven.
I opened my eyes.
Sunlight spilled through the windows of the healing room, warming the blankets tucked around me. The scent of herbs filled the air instead of damp earth and blood.
Draven sat beside the bed.
His clothes had been changed, but fresh bandages wrapped his shoulder and ribs. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his hair was a mess, as if he'd spent days running hi
