Midnight fell.
Distant howls filled the air. Along with the fascinating hymn created as the wind kissed the leaves, the howls seemed like a choir of beasts, lulling their prey into a deep slumber as they ruled over the night.
Calista opened her eyes to the noise coming outside. She felt exhausted despite sleeping for a few days. The excruciating pain in her shoulder remained that she wished she could go back to sleep instead. However, with all the howling in the middle of the night, she couldn't get another wink of sleep.
Groaning, she pulled her body up to sit down.
The lights were off but the moonlight coming through the open window was enough to light the room. Calista gazed around with groggy eyes. She was trying to recall what happened but all she could remember was going to the secret garden with the duke. After that, her memories were a blur.
"Ack! I'm parched," she whispered in a hoarse voice. Her throat felt so dry she could drink a river.
