Alina woke up feeling a heavy ache in her body. Every muscle hurt as she moved under the soft blankets. The last thing she remembered was the cold knife against her skin, but after that... nothing. Her mind was blank where memories of the ceremony should have been.
She blinked, adjusting to the dim morning light coming through the curtains. The familiar sight of her bedroom didn't ease the growing anxiety in her chest. How did she end up back here? Did the ceremony go as planned, or did something go wrong? The questions swirled in her mind, gnawing at her peace until she couldn't stand the uncertainty anymore.
Just as the tension became unbearable, the door creaked open, and Marcus walked in, looking both concerned and relieved. Alina didn't waste any time. "Marcus, what happened? How did I get here? Is everything okay?" she asked quickly.
But Marcus just shook his head gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You need to rest, Alina. We can talk later."
