MADELINE
A knock at the door pulled me from sleep so heavy it felt like drowning. I jerked upright in bed, disoriented. Warm sunlight streamed through the window. Dawn had already broken.
My first thought was of Cian.
Was he back yet? Was he okay? Last night he'd been falling apart at the seams when he couldn't feel Fia through their bond. I'd never seen him act like that before. So raw, terrified and completely unraveling.
The knock came again, sharper this time and successfully disorienting my train of thoughts.
"Who is it?" My voice came out rough from sleep.
"It's me."
Shit. It was Wilhelm.
I pushed the blankets off and crossed to the door. When I opened it, he stood there in fresh clothes, a tiny travel bag slung over one shoulder. He looked put together. Composed. Nothing like the blood-soaked mess I'd scraped off my floor last night.
"You're already leaving?"
