Nathan's POV

　　My senses claw their way back to me, the coppery taste of blood a stark reminder of my forced slumber. A dull throbbing behind my eyes pulses in time with my heartbeat. My limbs protest with stiffness as I attempt to move, a groan slipping past my lips, unbidden. The scent of jasmine and wilderness invades my nostrils; it's unfamiliar yet comforting- a stark contrast to the harsh sterility of my own quarters.

　　I peel my eyelids open, squinting ...