The first thing Holden noticed was the smell of coffee. The kind of smell that could pull someone out of unconsciousness by the nose and refuse to let go. After spending what felt like an eternity fighting through the Nightmare Dungeon, it was almost enough to make him believe he was still dreaming.
The second thing he noticed was Lyra's hand resting on his shoulder. Holden opened his eyes, blinking against the morning light filtering through the curtains.
Lyra was sitting on the edge of his bed, holding a steaming cup of coffee in one hand. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and she was already dressed in her full combat gear, her spear strapped across her back. Her glowing blue eyes were steady, but the slight tension in her jaw told him everything he needed to know before she even opened her mouth.
Something was wrong.
"What time is it?" Holden asked.
"Noon. You slept for twelve hours."
"Twelve hours isn't enough."
