Octavia
I felt numb, almost hollow, as my eyes slowly opened. I didn’t know where I was, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t even concerned about the consequences of attacking the king. I simply wanted to lie there, wherever “there” was.
A door opened, and instinctively I lifted my head slightly from the bed. The room was dim, but light spilled from the bathroom as Valerio stepped out. His hair was damp, and he wore nothing but a white towel around his waist. His muscles shifted beneath his skin as he moved. He must have felt my gaze because he turned and met my eyes. Embarrassed by my obvious staring, I quickly looked away.
With a quiet sigh, I sank back into the bed. His scent was heavy in the sheets, cutting through the numbness that wrapped around me. I buried my face in one of the pillows
