When Ruelle's eyes opened, she was met with darkness. She remembered lying down on the bed briefly while the light outside the window had still been pale and the birds had been chirping.
She felt the dull ache bloom back through her shoulders. Her hands felt swollen and stiff, each finger protesting even at the smallest thought of movement.
When she turned on her side, her heart almost jumped out of her chest upon finding herself staring straight into a pair of red eyes.
"What are you—" her voice came out hoarse. She swallowed and tried again. "Mr. S…?"
For a brief, ridiculous moment, she wondered if this was a ghost. The thought made her brow crease faintly as she stared at him.
Dane hummed, evidently amused and leaned back in the chair that was pulled close to her bed. He replied,
