Five days later:
Aire opened her eyes.
Her eyelashes trembled first, then stopped. For several seconds, nothing happened. She stared at the ceiling without really seeing it.
Everything felt distant, and heavy.
Her body felt as though it belonged to someone else.
Her head throbbed. Her chest ached with every breath she took, and her throat felt painfully dry.
She tried to swallow.
Her lips parted slightly. They were cracked, and dry. There was a faint sting when she moved them.
Aire blinked slowly.
The room gradually came into focus.
She frowned at the thought of the Dark Fae realm.
Her eyes widened. She tried to sit up. Pain immediately pulled through her body. A small sound of pain escaped her.
Nate, who had been sleeping beside the bed, jolted awake. He had fallen asleep with his head resting against the edge of the mattress.
His eyes snapped open.
For a second, he simply stared at her.
He didn't breathe. "Aire?" His voice was barely more than a whisper.
