I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms. I had to fight. I had to hold on.
But I was so tired.
So cold.
So—
The world wrenched sideways. The dungeon crumbled.
And I woke up gasping.
My body jerked upright, drenched in sweat, my chest rising and falling in ragged breaths. My heart thundered against my ribs, a caged animal desperate to break free.
For a moment, I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.
The weight of the chains still lingered on my wrists, phantom pain flaring along my skin. My mind screamed that I was still there, still trapped, still bleeding out on that cold stone floor—
A warm hand brushed against my cheek.
"Angelica."
Killian’s voice was rough with sleep, but the concern in it was undeniable. I turned toward him before I could stop my
