Lyra's POV
Ash guided me into his bedroom, his strong hands steady on my shoulders as my world tilted dangerously. The moment we reached his bed, he pulled me down beside him, and I collapsed into his warmth like a broken bird seeking shelter. My chest rose and fell in jagged rhythms, each breath a struggle against the panic clawing at my throat.
His palm moved in slow, deliberate strokes down my spine, trying to calm the storm raging inside me. But even his touch couldn't stop the tremors that wracked my body or quiet the chaos in my mind. We remained locked in this fragile embrace, the silence broken only by my ragged breathing and the thundering of my pulse.
Time became meaningless. Minutes could have been hours, or hours could have been seconds. Finally, Ash drew in a measured breath, his voice cutting through the haze of my distress.
"Tell me what happened."
