Salome woke to the sound of her own heartbeat—too fast, too loud, pounding in her ears like a warning.
Her eyes snapped open.
Unfamiliar ceiling. Unfamiliar walls. Unfamiliar sheets against her skin.
She bolted upright, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps.
Where was she? Where was Kai? What—
A hand touched her shoulder, warm and steady.
She flinched violently, scrambling backward until her back hit the headboard.
"Hey, hey—it's okay." The voice was low, calm, familiar. "You're safe. It's just me."
Malachi.
She blinked, trying to focus through the fog in her head. He was sitting beside her, shirtless, his expression concerned but not alarmed. Like he'd been expecting this.
"Malachi?" Her voice came out hoarse, uncertain.
"Yeah, angel. It's me." He kept his hands visible, n
