*Ember*

I woke with a start.

For a moment, I didn’t know where I was or how I had gotten there, but then I realized that I was in my room at the manor, wrapping tightly in a pile of blankets.

My head was pounding, and my mouth felt dry and cottony. The morning sunlight, which I usually loved, stung my eyes and caused me to duck back under the covers for the tiny amount of respite they could afford me.

Even though I felt terrible, there was something ...