Bella woke with a pounding headache, each pulse like a hammer against her skull. She groaned softly, squeezing her eyes shut against the pain, but it only intensified. It felt like her head was about to split open, the remnants of Luna Lora’s healing spell leaving a chaotic aftermath in her mind. She pressed a trembling hand to her forehead, trying to steady herself, to anchor herself in the present.
With a deep, shuddering breath, she slowly opened her eyes, blinking against the soft light inside the room. The world slowly came into focus, and the first thing she saw was Asher's face, mere inches from her own. He was lying beside her, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and relief as he looked at her. A shiver ran through her entire body at the sight of him, her heart skipping a beat.
