Anna's eyelids fluttered slowly as consciousness returned to her.
When her eyes finally opened, her vision cleared to reveal a familiar space. She felt the softness of the bed beneath her and the duvet draped over her body.
A wave of heat and clamminess washed over her, leaving her weak and heavy. Her muscles ached, her head throbbed faintly, and her throat felt painfully dry.
For a moment, she lay there in confusion.
She had no memory of returning to the commander's tent. The last thing she remembered was the cold ground… the night… the fire.
Why was she here?
"You're awake."
At the sound of his voice, Anna turned her head.
Kyren sat beside the bed.
Her breath caught slightly as her eyes met his. Only then did she realise—his large, calloused hand was resting over hers.
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
It felt as though she had been caught in some unforgivable wrongdoing. The memory of their quarrel rushed back—the shouting, her defiance, his fury.
