Her phone chimed.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
The sound cut through the fog in her head like a dull blade, persistent and annoying. Iva groaned softly and turned her face into the pillow, her eyes burning, her body heavy as if gravity itself had doubled overnight.
The screen lit up again.
Lori:
Are you okay?
Iva, please text me back.
I heard things…
Iva stared at the glowing screen without really seeing it. The words blurred together, swimming uselessly in front of her eyes. Her chest tightened, panic and exhaustion tangled so tightly she couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began.
I can’t, she thought blankly. I can’t deal with this.
Inside her, Avalon stirred, sensing the turmoil, her presence gentle and worried.
Iva…
“Not now, please,” Iva whispered hoarsely, her throat tig
