Chapter 85

VALERIA

I stirred awake; the scent of antiseptic and the harsh white glare of fluorescent lights making me squint greeted me back to reality.

Where was I?

A sterile hospital room surrounded me, and there, hovering over me like some dark cloud, were Reese and a doctor, both wearing expressions that were far too grave for comfort. My chest tightened with an immediate sense of foreboding.

My heart lurched. “What happened to me?” My voice came out hoarse, more fragile than I intended.

The last thing I remembered was dragging myself out of bed, drenched in sweat, with a fever so high I could barely see straight. I was just going downstairs to grab some medicine and then—nothing. It was just a blank.

But the fever has vanished now, and my breathing has returned to normal.

I could feel the IV in my arm, the sting of bandages that covered fresh needle marks. They had drawn blood apparently to carry out some tests. But for what? What on earth had happened to me?

I glanced between Reese and the