Vinorca Jona POV

A voice brushed my ears, soft and coaxing.

“Vinorca, wake up.”

Pain thrummed inside my skull, deep and raw, sirens wailing in every corner of my mind. I forced my eyes open against the weight dragging at my lids, vision swimming until Amanda’s face steadied into focus—calm, yet edged with worry. She lifted a glass to my lips, her fingers brushing lightly against my cheek.

“Drink this. You’ll feel a little better.”

She wasn’t wrong. My throat burned dry and scraped raw, each breath catching sharp in my chest. I took the glass from her and drank slowly, the cool water easing the fire in my throat,...