Meredith's eyelids fluttered open, her head throbbing as the room around her slowly came into focus. The sharp pain behind her eyes made her wince, and she groaned softly, reaching a trembling hand up to rub her forehead.
As she blinked, the blur began to clear, revealing the two forms lying beside her. Damien and Xavier. Their bodies were elegantly sprawled across the bed. They looked different, though. Not in appearance but in the aura around them, something more tense, something broken.
Meredith's throat was dry as she whispered, "What... happened?"
Both Damien and Xavier stirred at the sound of her voice, their eyes snapping open in an instant. Relief flooded their faces, and for a brief moment, they shared a glance, as though silently communicating before turning back to h
