AURORA’S POV
I woke drenched in sweat, heart hammering, every muscle trembling as if I had run a thousand miles in my sleep. My robes clung to my body, damp and cold against my skin. The memory of the Shadow Realm, of the dragon’s heart, of Damion trapped in that infernal darkness, made my chest tighten with fear. I pressed a hand to my belly, feeling the pup stir with gentle insistence. A soft kick, a reminder of life inside me.
“Oh, Damion…” I whispered, voice trembling. “Lucien… I failed you…”
The room was quiet, too quiet, and I wondered if it had all been a nightmare. The sun streamed weakly through the curtains, painting patterns on the floor. I swung my legs over the bed, shivering as I scanned the room. Nothing looked wrong. Nothing seemed… real.
A soft creak made me spin. The
