Kaelen's POV
Pain greeted me like an unwelcome visitor. Not the sharp bite of a fresh wound, but something deeper and more persistent. Every fiber in my body felt wrung out, as if I'd been stretched beyond my limits and left to recover in agony. My throat burned with the intensity of swallowing broken glass mixed with ash.
My eyelids felt heavy as I forced them open.
The stark white ceiling above me came into focus, harsh fluorescent lighting cutting through my vision. The antiseptic scent of the medical wing hit me immediately, bringing with it the understanding that something had gone terribly wrong. Thick bandages wrapped around my torso and arms, and whatever healing salve they'd applied beneath the cloth reeked of charred plants and regret.
