A sudden warmth surrounded me, different from the cold emptiness that had seeped into my bones. I didn’t resist, I couldn’t. My thoughts were muddled, my emotions were too overwhelming to fight against.
The world swayed around me.
Whoever was carrying me had strong arms. I knew it was a man, I could hear his low throaty groans with every step he took, and the way he held on to me like I weighed nothing at all.
But who was this strange man?
I felt the gentle press of the person’s chest against my cheek, the subtle rise and fall of their breathing. The scent of them, faint but distinct—like the earth after rain, clean and grounding—taking over my entire senses. My fingers twitched slightly, instinctively grasping at their shirt, seeking some kind of reassurance.
I was not familiar with
