Jadon drifted awake slowly, as if rising through layers of a warm cloud. For a moment she didn’t know where she was. The air smelled like cedar and smoke.

The sheets beneath her were soft. A familiar heartbeat thrummed close by. Then she felt the bond, Warm, Steady, Alive, Her eyes fluttered open.

Evan sat beside her on the bed, head bowed and worked on laptop. He looked at exhausted dark circles under his eyes, dried blood on his shirt, hair a mess but he was awake, watching her the moment ...