Julian woke slowly, but he did not move immediately.
For several seconds he simply remained still, aware of the quiet around him and the weight of memory waiting for him the moment he allowed his thoughts to settle.
His body felt heavy, yet it was not pain that kept him lying there without movement.
It was the images returning to him piece by piece, sharp and clear despite the hours that had passed.
The hallway, the bodies and Lucian.
When he finally opened his eyes. A few seconds passed before the door opened quietly.
Victoria stepped inside.
She paused the moment she saw that his eyes were open, and for a brief moment she studied him carefully before speaking.
"You're conscious," she said.
Julian turned his head slightly toward her. His voice was calm when he answered.
"Yes."
Victoria walked farther into the room and stopped beside the chair near the bed. She watched his expression for a moment before asking another question.
"How do you feel?"
