Ariella’s POV
My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing I felt was pain.
Not the sharp kind that comes from a wound…this was deep, all-over ache, like every muscle and bone in my body had been put through a bone-crushing transformation and then shoved back together wrong.
I winced hard, eyes squeezing shut for a second as a fresh wave rolled through me. My thighs burned. My core throbbed. Even my back and shoulders felt heavy and sore.
I was cradled in Rion’s arms like something precious tucked into a warm cocoon.
His chest rose and fell steadily against my back, one thick arm wrapped around my waist, the other curled under my head. His breath tickled the back of my neck.
For a moment I just lay there, letting the reality sink in before I turned to face him.
I wasn’t even in an
