Serena PoV

I felt the pain, the first sensation of movement in my chest, going through me like a burning fire. Breathing was slow and laboured while being pressed down by something heavy. I could not focus. Something like a fog settled in my mind, and I could hardly move my limbs.

"She’s waking up," a soft voice, familiar, said from one side.

Then my eyelids fluttered open, and now I caught the dim light of my room. Draven was standing next to me. I could see tiredness written all over his face. On my other side was Ardan, his countenance tensed up.

I groaned and began to sit up;...