Elise's POV
The world assaulted me in waves. First, a searing pain jolted through my skull like a boulder had been tossed against it. My eyes remained stubbornly shut, gritty and dry. Panic clawed at my throat as I tried to remember where I was.
Then, a familiar scent, warm and musky, washed over me, sending a wave of relief crashing through my terror. It was Rygan. My body, pleasantly warm under a sheet, felt safe nestled against his powerful frame.
Opening my eyes, I took in the unfamiliar room. Relief morphed into confusion. No sight of humans, no screams, no fight. Had it all been a nightmare? Had I dreamt it all? The kidnapping and everything? No, that couldn’t be, not when the memories were coming in slowly, like flashes.
“f**k,” I muttered, taking his hands slowly off my body. I
