The first thing I notice when I open my eyes is that I'm not dead.
Which is... unexpected, honestly.
The second thing I notice is that I'm in the fanciest room I've ever seen in my life. We're talking velvet everything, marble floors so shiny I can probably see my reflection, and glowing crystal lamps that look like they cost more than my mom's entire bakery.
The third thing I notice is Xavier's face hovering over me like some kind of nightmare I can't wake up from.
"Amara," he says in that smooth, fake-concerned voice that makes my skin crawl. "Thank the gods you're awake. I was so worried—"
"I'm awake," I croak out, my voice rough from nine days of not using it. (Spoiler alert: I don't know it's been nine days yet, but we'll get there.)
And then all hell breaks loose.
