Thoren
I woke to sunlight bleeding through the narrow windows.
Too bright. Too calm.
Too wrong.
My body felt heavy, but not in the way exhaustion draped over you. No, this was a false weight—sedated. Artificial. My limbs hummed with energy and rest, but my mind snapped to attention like a whip cracking through fog.
I was still on the couch in my office.
Still in yesterday’s clothes.
Still—sleeping.
And then I remembered.
The tea. The window. Michelle’s voice.
Michelle.
I was on my feet in seconds, the blanket sloughing off like dead skin. Fury blazed through me faster than my claws could shift.
I didn’t have to go far to find her. She was standing by the war table overlooking the map.
“What did you do?” I growled.
She didn’t flinch.
Didn’t even look up from the map she was
