Selene's POV
I woke up coughing, sharp, dry gasps escaping my throat as if I'd been drowning and had suddenly broken through to air. The world around me blurred and swayed, and then I felt it, Lucian's hand clasping mine, trembling.
"Selene! Goddess….. Selene, you're awake!" he rasped, his voice rough from sleeplessness.
Alora hurried to my side, her fingers shaking slightly as she lifted a glass of water to my lips. "Drink this, Luna, please. Slowly."
The water cooled my throat, grounding me back into reality. My gaze lifted to Lucian, and my chest squeezed painfully. His hair was a tangled mess, his eyes bloodshot, his shirt crumpled as though he hadn't changed in days. He looked broken, undone.
"I'm sorry," I croaked weakly, "I'm sorry to have scared you. I didn't mean to….."
But before I could finish, Lucian crushed me against his chest, burying his face into my hair. His arms wrapped around me with a desperate force that stole my breath.
