Lila
The first thing I felt was the heat. It pressed against my skin before I was fully awake, a slow, smothering weight that made it hard to breathe.
The air was thick, heavy in my lungs, and every inhale carried the sharp sting of smoke. I coughed, eyes watering, the sound swallowed by a low, distant roar.
For a moment, I thought I was dreaming again, caught in one of those fevered half-sleeps where shadows flicker and the walls lean in close. But then I heard shouting.
A heavy thud jolted me. Someone slammed against the door hard enough to rattle the latch. I staggered to my feet, my bare toes curling against the rug. Another slam, then the latch gave way with a splintering crack.
Ronan filled the doorway, backlit by firelight and shadow, his hair damp with sweat, eyes hard and
