Elena stirred beneath the sheets, her body heavy, skin still tingling from what had just happened. For a long while she simply lay there, staring at the ceiling, listening to her heartbeat slowly calm. But then reality pressed against her like cold hands.
She sat up suddenly, the blanket sliding off her bare chest.
Lucian’s blue eyes opened immediately. He had been lying beside her, one arm stretched lazily across the bed. His gaze locked on her, sharp and awake.
“What is it?” he asked, voice low, calm, but alert.
Elena pushed her hair back, her face flushed. “I need to go back. To the hospital.”
His jaw shifted slightly, though his expression stayed unreadable. “Why?”
“My sister and Sofia will be waiting. They’ll worry if I don’t return. I can’t just stay here all night…” Her voice
