Chapter 26
Pain arrived before awareness.
A sharp, burning pain that spread through Evelyn's shoulder and dragged her violently back to consciousness.
She gasped.
The world around her swam in blurry shadows and muffled sounds.
Alarms.
Footsteps.
Someone shouting her name.
"Evelyn."
A familiar voice.
Deep.
Urgent.
Damian.
Her eyes fluttered open.
The first thing she saw was Damian's face hovering above hers.
Relief flashed through his features so quickly that she almost thought she'd imagined it.
Then it disappeared.
Replaced by his usual control.
"Stay still."
The command sounded rough.
Not cold.
Rough.
Like he hadn't taken a full breath since she got shot.
The realization settled somewhere dangerous inside her chest.
"What happened?" she whispered.
Her throat felt
