The world swam in and out of focus, a dizzying blend of pain and muffled voices. I felt hands on me, gentle yet firm, lifting my body. The scent of blood, my own and Lord Sapphire's, was thick in the air. I kept my eyes squeezed shut, my breathing shallow, maintaining the illusion of unconsciousness.
I felt the jarring motion of being carried, then the soft give of a mattress as I was gently laid down. The familiar scent of my room, of polished wood and faint lavender, filled my nostrils. A wave of profound relief washed over me. I was safe. For now.
