(Rhea’s POV)
I woke up with a heavy head, like I’d just been yanked out of a nightmare. My eyelids felt sticky, my breathing short, and my throat dry. The sensation still clung to the edge of my nerves—like cold hands pinning me down, forcing me to sink into darkness.
When I finally managed to open my eyes, I realized… this wasn’t my room.
The space was far too luxurious. High ceilings with small crystal chandeliers casting soft light, tall glass windows showing the silhouette of Elaria still shrouded in darkness, and sleek black-and-gray furniture arranged with precision. The thick carpet under my feet felt foreign, too soft, like I was stepping on clouds.
I lay on a massive bed with dark gray satin sheets. A built-in bookshelf lined one wall, and an abstract painting hung neatly abov
