Aria’s POV

Consciousness came slowly.

The first thing I felt was warmth.

Warmth from the mattress beneath me. Thick blankets. A steady scent in the air that grounded me before my eyes even opened.

Damien.

It surrounded me, and my lashes lifted.

The ceiling above me was unfamiliar, dark wood beams, high, polished. The room was larger than the one Amy had shown me.

This wasn’t a guest room.

I shifted slightly and pain shot through my side, and a sharp inhale left me before I could ...