I press my fingers against my temple, trying to steady myself, trying to hold onto something solid— but nothing stays still.
Why is everything spinning?
Why am I so dizzy?
My body suddenly burns.
It starts in my chest—a small flame, barely there—then spreads outward like wildfire, devouring everything in its path.
Heat floods through me, rising to my throat, my face, my scalp—then crashing down my arms and legs, pooling in my fingertips and toes until every inch of my skin feels like it's on fire.
It's not the warmth of a fever. Not the gentle heat of a flush. It's something else. Something wrong. Something that feels like my blood is boiling beneath my skin.
I lean back against the couch, my body sinking into the cushions like dead weight. The fabric is soft beneath me, but I barely feel it. Everything is too hot. Too fast. Too much.
Angel's hand cups my face. His palm is cool against my burning skin, and I lean into it—just for a moment.
It's… comfortable.
