Chapter 44
Ariana
Every limb of my body is heavy. I can dimly tell I’m not in my nest, but I can’t persuade my eyelids to open and see where I am. Between my chest, there’s a persistent burning pain. Sleep begins to pull me under again, a welcome relief from the throbbing in my head.
“For fuck’s sake, how long are we going to have to wait?”
The harsh voice snaps me awake. My heart begins pounding wildly, hammering in my chest next to the inflamed pain. When I can’t hold in my breath any longer, I avoid breathing in through my nose.
“She’s awake.”
Clenching my eyes shut, I desperately search for the rest that evaded me. Anything to avoid the nightmare I’ve woken up in. Stubbornly, I keep my eyes closed even when sleep never comes.
Feeling the presence of people standing over me, my heart clenches. Traitorously, the pain in my chest beside it eases. The slight relief is interrupted by a harsh yank at the bond, so sudden it sends a violent jolt through my body.
Gasping, my eyes fly open from shock. Unfocused, they linger on the ceiling first. Swallowing, my gaze travels down. With my vision beginning to focus, I can make out the familiar furniture.
One of the bodies standing over me pushes their face closer, obscuring my view as the others follow suit. I’m forced to look up at the owners of the scents I’ve been avoiding acknowledging. The man in the middle’s lips curl upwards in a smirk that makes my stomach sink.
“Hello, Ariana.” Ian says.