CHAPTER 210
KATYA POV
The morning light slipped through the sheer curtains. I'd managed a bath, or at least the closest thing to it I could handle without unwrapping the bandages on my back and head.
The water had been lukewarm, just enough to rinse away the stickiness of sweat and fear. I hadn't lingered—every splash of water against my bruised skin reminded me of how fragile I still was.
I dressed carefully, pulling on the simplest clothes I owned: a soft blouse that didn't rub against my wounds and a pair of loose pants.
I avoided anything tight or elaborate. The slightest discomfort sent a prickling reminder of last night's chaos through my shoulders and spine.
Walking barefoot across the polished floor, I felt each step echo in the quiet halls. Every shadow, every flicker of light from the windows made me pause, forcing my breathing to steady.
The basement felt like a memory I couldn't shake—the chill of steel against my back, the weight of his gaze. And the kiss.
