|| Penelope ||
Pain. It coiled around me like a vice, dull at first, then sharp enough to steal my breath. My head throbbed, each pulse hammering against my skull. My body felt heavy, my limbs sluggish, as if invisible chains bound me to the bed.
I squeezed my eyes shut before forcing them open. The world was blurry at first, shifting shapes and shadows dancing in the dim light. Then, I heard a voice.
"She is awake," James’ voice rang in my ears, cutting through the fog in my mind.
My vision focused, and the first thing I saw was Richard, sitting close to my bed, his face etched with concern. His dark eyes held something unreadable — relief? Worry? A mixture of both. He exhaled a breath, one I hadn’t realized he had been holding, before speaking.
"Are you okay, Princess?"
His voice w
