Alaric turned around slowly, his breath hitched the moment his eyes met with hers.
Seraphina looked around, her brows knitted in confusion. "Where are we?"
Alaric couldn't bring himself out of the daze, he felt mixed feelings, and relief, relief that she had gained consciousness.
For a few seconds, Alaric did not answer. He was still standing there, his body tense, his mind lagging behind reality. Relief sat heavy in his chest, mixed with fear, confusion, and something he did not want to name. She was awake. That was all that mattered in that moment.
"We are in the Bloodshade pack," he finally said, his voice low and careful, as if raising it might shatter her again.
Her gaze drifted from the stone walls to the unfamiliar ceiling, then back to him. The confusion in her eyes slowly shifted, replaced by something darker. Her lips parted slightly, and her breath became shallow as memory came crashing back.
"The Queen," she whispered, more to herself than to him.
