Alessia's POV
I woke up with a start, my heart hammering in my chest. The scent of leather and the faint scent of Oud filled the air around me. My head spun for a moment as I tried to piece together the events that led me here. The last thing I clearly remembered was Dante's arms around me. I was angry. So angry. And now, I am here.
I was lying in an unfamiliar bed, its softness amplifying the tension in my limbs. The silken sheets wrapped around me, cold against my skin as I pushed myself up, scanning the room in a rush. Dim light from a nearby fireplace lightened, casting long, dark shadows across the space.
"You're awake."
The voice startled me. I whipped my head around to find Dante, leaning casually against the wall by the door, arms crossed, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity I couldn't escape. His gaze was sharp, annoying even, but there was something more, something darker behind it.
