Kiara's POV:

Underneath the well-illuminated chandelier, I sat quietly ensconced between Riley and Cathy on the lavish comforter that adorned my bed. The heady mix of antiseptic and the fresh scent of blooming roses from the nearby vase permeated the room, each a sharp contrast to the other – one a grim reminder of my recent brush with danger, the other a testament to the love and concern that surrounded me.

My heart pounded a syncopated rhythm, the echo of my mates' ...