-Vaughn Blackmore:
The door opened quietly behind me.
At first, I didn't bother looking up properly. I thought the nurse had come back, and honestly, I was too irritated and sore to care anymore. The ointment cooling against my ribs still burned slightly underneath my compression shirt, and every deeper breath pulled at the bruise enough to remind me exactly how hard Kieran slammed me onto the floor.
But then the room stayed silent.
Too silent.
No rustling drawers. No annoyed lecture from the nurse about "young trainees thinking they're invincible." Nothing.
Just silence.
I frowned slightly and finally lifted my head.
Ryland stood near the doorway.
The sight of him immediately made something tense inside my chest again.
