The chamber was dim, lit only by the faint glow of the evening sun leaking through the curtains. A heavy silence hung in the air until Lucian stirred, his chest rising in a shallow breath. His lashes fluttered, and with effort he pried his eyes open. For a moment the room swayed, pain searing through his throat as if the rope were still there. His entire body ached, the weight of bruises dragging him down, but he forced himself upright.
By the door, Kury had been standing like a statue, uncertain if his master would ever wake again. The instant Lucian's voice broke the silence—hoarse, cracked, but steady—Kury jumped.
"Kury," Lucian rasped, his hand weakly pressing against the bedding. "Fetch Erin. And… prepare me dinner."
Kury's mouth fell open. Then, in a burst of disbelief, he shouted, "Master! You're alive!" His young face lit up with a grin, relief spilling out all at once.
