I surface by degrees, aware first of my body, aching but unharmed. Then there’s the throbbing pain at the back of my skull. And then there’s the feeling of being cradled in someone’s arms.
I blink open my eyes. Niya crouches before me, her hands curled around one of mine.
I turn my head slowly to find Bren holding me, his arm supporting my back.
“Oh, thank God,” he murmurs, resting his head against my shoulder. His arms tighten around me. I lean into him, vaguely aware that I’m on the ground in a dim hallway, Bren beside me, legs splayed as he supports me, his knee against my back. It’s all a little awkward, and yet I don’t want to move.
God“Rae,” Niya whispers. “Are you hurt?”
“Headache,” I tell her. Bren shifts back and I force myself to sit up, take a little more of my weight. “I’m
