Mary and Alpha Ash

MARY

My head is pounding again, and my mouth feels as dry as the Sahara desert. I can see the sun rising once more, and I wonder how long I've slept this time; how long has it been since I last felt Nikolai's touch on my skin. It felt like someone had been tugging at me the night before, trying to communicate with me while I was sleeping, but their magical aura, while familiar, wasn't one I could place. The aura felt peaceful, but I wasn't going to risk getting myself into more trouble. Instead, I remained in the shadows during my sleep-like state, waiting for the person to whom the aura belonged to make their presence known by reaching out to me. If they were my friend, they would reveal themself, and if they were a foe, they'd continue to creep along on the outskirts waiting for me to slip up. The aura didn't last long; it continued to creep forward, staying as far away from the shadows as possible.

I continued to rest in the shadows, letting the darkness take over until my body na