Chapter 53: My name is Nell

It was the birds that woke me in the morning, chirping all too happily in the dappled sunlight. I blinked, disoriented. This wasn’t the hospital, and yet it felt familiar ... The day before came rushing back to me, and I sat up, my heart thumping and my mind on instant alert. I’d been passed out, so exhausted that anyone could have snuck up on us and I wouldn’t have heard. I cast my mind around, as far as I could, but I didn’t pick up a single blip of power. I sagged back in relief.

The air was cool, and I kicked myself for falling asleep before I had the chance to make a fire. Rafe might have been freezing. I hopped up and tiptoed to the door of the bedroom, but he was still asleep, the covers moving up and down in a reassuring rhythm.