Chapter 9
Early the next morning…
A dull throb pulsed at Aurora’s temples as she stirred awake. Her limbs felt heavy, as if she were wading through fog, and yet her head felt weightless—light in the most disorienting way.
The soft glow of morning light spilled in through the sheer curtains. Everything felt unfamiliar, but not unpleasant. The fever was gone, leaving only the heaviness of deep exhaustion behind. She shifted slightly beneath the covers—and that was when she noticed it.
The damp cloth resting on her forehead.
The comforter, neatly tucked around her.
And the faint, distinct scent of a man’s cologne.
Her heart jumped. That scent… it was his.
Memories stirred—hazy and fragmented. Warm hands. A low voice coaxing her to drink something bitter. The sound of her name spoken i
