Elena’s POV

I woke up drenched in sweat. My pillow was damp, my throat dry, and my body felt like it was burning from the inside. I couldn’t tell if I was sick again or if something else was happening to me. My breathing came out short and uneven. Every time I tried to take a deep breath, it caught halfway, leaving a dull ache in my chest.

I moved my hand, but my fingers wouldn’t stop trembling. The air in the room was warm, but I still shivered. I tried to push myself up, and that was ...