Liana woke with a start, her heart pounding violently against her ribs as her eyes fluttered open. The world around her was blurry at first, the edges of her vision swimming with the aftershocks of her nightmare. Every muscle in her body screamed in protest as she slowly became aware of the slick, warm sensation coating her skin. Blood. She was covered in blood.
Her breath hitched as panic surged through her chest, but before it could fully take hold, she felt a steady weight on her shoulder—Drew. His arm was wrapped around her protectively, his hold firm yet gentle. His breath came out slow and measured, but his eyes… His eyes were filled with a mixture of heartbreak and concern, emotions that twisted his normally stoic features. Whatever he had seen in her during the nightmare, it had s
