** Rhea’s POV **
I was lying on the cold floor, my eyes fixed on the moonlight high above.
I hadn't been touched by anyone yet.
I was physically whole, and yet, I felt like I was dying.
It started with a cold, numbing fire in my veins.
I tried to sit up, but I couldn't lift my body off the floor.
I couldn't even wiggle my fingers. A terrifying weight settled over my chest, making every breath I took a struggle. It was a paralysis so sudden and absolute that my heart hammered against my ribs in panic.
I wondered if they had put something in my water. I tried to call for a guard, but my throat was dry and constricted.
Then, the first real wave of agony hit. It was a sharp, piercing pang in my shoulder that traveled straight down to my heart.
It felt like my blood was thickening,
