Bonds

Chapter 55

-Maya’s POV-

A wave of nausea rolled over me threatening to pull me under. The room spun, a dizzying carousel of white walls and blurry shapes. A cool hand settled on my forehead, a comforting anchor in the sea of disorientation. “Easy there,” a familiar voice murmured, laced with concern.

My eyelids fluttered open, battling the heaviness that threatened to keep them shut. Slowly, the blurry shapes merged into a face – Ivan’s face, filled with worry and a hint of relief. Relief washed over me, momentarily eclipsing the fear and pain that gnawed at the edges of my

consciousness.

voice was a dry rasp, barely audible even to my own ears. The memories, fragmented and terrifying, began to

up my throat. “What happened?” I croaked, the question a desperate plea for

as he pushed me back down onto the bed.

word felt foreign in my current state. “No, it’s not okay,” I insisted, my voice rising with a tremor. “Natalia… Sarah… Riley. What about them?” Images of their faces flashed

a steady counterpoint to the

rest”

bruised? The fear morphed into anger, a hot coal burning in my gut. “I need to see them,” I declared, pushing myself up in the bed, ignoring the wave of dizziness

my shoulder. “Whoa, there. The doctor said you need to stay in bed for observation.

quell the frantic energy coursing through me. “But what happened?” I demanded,