Elle POV
Consciousness returns to me in pieces.
A sense of movement.
Strong arms.
The steady, grounding pull of the bond.
I drift in and out, not fully asleep, not fully awake—aware only that I’m being carried somewhere safe. My cheek rests against warmth, my body cradled close as though being held is the most natural thing in the world. Each time my awareness flickers, Blake is there—solid, unwavering, anchoring me even when I can’t quite hold onto myself.
By the time I surface fully, I’m back in the bed.
The familiar room greets me with low mage-light and quiet warmth. The sheets are cool against my skin, tucked carefully around me, and for a moment I simply lie there, staring up at the ceiling as memory settles into place.
Then I shift.
A low ache ripples through my body—not sh
