The room felt like a blur as Marissa's eyes fluttered open, her gaze adjusting to the bright light of the living room.
She could feel the cool water on her cheeks that someone must have sprayed to bring her back to consciousness. Sophie's concerned face came into view.
"Marissa, are you ok?" Sophie asked her, and Marissa could feel relief and worry in her voice. She blinked, glancing around, and saw Joseph nearby.
At some distance, Valerie was standing but her eyes were not on Marissa. Marissa followed her big sister's gaze and found the man standing in the corner of the room.
He had changed… transformed, still able to capture her attention. This time his presence was more overwhelming. He looked different, his shoulder-length hair, rugged face, and his stronger, more defined build made him unmistakably more striking.