Lucia was jolt awake. Dazedly looking around, she realized that she was lying in an unfamiliar bed, in an unknown room.
Groggy, she held her temple. Her head felt like it would explode at any moment, and after a tentative attempt to roll on her side to stand up, she lay back again, a groan of pain leaving her dried cracked lips.
There was movement to her left, then a gentle hand lifted her head and pressed a mug to her parched mouth.
Cool, blessed water trickled over her tongue, and she suddenly grasped the mug with trembling hands, desperate for more. A soothing voice calmed her panic, holding the water steady as she gulp greedily.
She looked up into concerned brown eyes, but they were not the ones she longed for.
“Silas,” she whispered hoarsely, trying to see past him, longing for…
