Scarlett
When I woke up the next day, my throat was dry, and the mark on the back of my neck had calmed. The room was bathed in soft light. I lay still for a few minutes, trying to reconnect with Kaya.
“Are you there?” I whispered silently in my mind, like speaking to a soul I hadn’t seen in a long time.
Silence. She still didn’t respond.
I bit my lower lip, struggling to suppress the unease inside. That feeling of abandonment surged up from my chest like a rising tide, making me almost want to vomit again.
A knock sounded at the door. I quickly pulled myself together. Katherine poked her head in, her smile bright: “Scarlett, don’t forget—we have the welcome banquet tonight. I booked a boutique, a spa, and a manicure! We’re pampering ourselves today!”
I shook my head, m
