Sloane sat on the edge of her bed, fingers curled tightly around the glass in her hand. The amber liquid inside glinted faintly under the dim glow of the single lamp by her bedside. She tilted the glass back, downing the rest in one quick motion, the burn trailing down her throat doing little to ease the heaviness pressing against her chest.
"Geez..." she muttered, raking her fingers through her messy hair, tugging at the strands as if the sharp pain could drown out the thoughts circling relentlessly in her mind.
Her gaze drifted toward the small window. The moon hung high, casting pale light over the stone walls. The events of the day played back in her head—the panic, the fear, the way Raelynn's body had writhed in pain. Everything was unraveling faster than anyone could control.
A sigh escaped her lips as she leaned back slightly, her body weighed down by exhaustion. Her eyelids fluttered closed, drawing her mind back to the day Elion had come to her doorstep.
**
