Hmm, that’s unusual. My mates sound different, even if they’re trying to talk softly.
That’s when the scents around me seep into my consciousness.
They’re not the calming fresh basil, soothing eucalyptus, fiery charred sage, or thick leather of my mates.
They’re... sweet?
“I think she’s starting to wake up!” A voice whispers, the excitement in her words palpable.
Wait a second.Hervoice?
I drag myself closer to consciousness, each beat of my heart dragging me forward.
“We should turn out the lights a little bit, the light may hurt her eyes after all the drugs she’s had to take to keep her knocked out.”
“That’s a good idea! I’ll go do that.”
Drugs? Knocked out? What is happening?
“Ah dammit, her heart rate is going up.”
“Is that bad?”
Someone steps up beside the bed I’m laying in, their soft hand squeezing mine.
“It’s okay Mira, you’re safe!”
That voice... There’s something so incredibly familiar about that voice. But I can’t put my finger on it.
I force my eyes to blink open.
At first, everything is blurry. But then I see it.
A familiar pair of russet brown eyes.
And lemons.
Sweet lemon meringue.
“Gwen?” I rasp out.
“Oh my gosh, Mira! You’re awake!” She gasps, covering her mouth with her other hand as she lets out a quiet sob.
Is this... real? Where am I? How is Gwen here?
I turn my head, blinking as I try to take in my surroundings.
I’m in a room.
A hospital room of some sort, based on the IV’s still stuck to my arms. For a second, they have my heart pounding as flashes of the last time I was attached to an IV flash through my mind.
“Hey, hey, hey, Mira, you’re okay,” another voice says.
My eyes go wide as I meet a familiar pair of storm grey eyes.
“Reyna?” It’s my turn to gasp, tears burning behind my eyes. “You’re okay?”
“I’m okay,” she says, flashing me a soft reassuring smile as she takes my other hand. “Thanks to you and your help. I never got a chance to thank you for helping me, back at the facility. I’m alive, thanks to you, you know.”
