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“Lachlan” His na with the weight of her lids, it took a few minutes before she opened her eyes fully Once a little aze darted around the room “Lachlan”

“I’m here” He towered over her, yet she failed to notice his large frame

She raised her hand; tentative fingers touched his arm, patted nervously at his chest “It is so dark in here,” she said

He glanced at the various candles illu the room “Open your eyes Look at me”

“Am I dead?”

A weak chuckle fell fro a about the situation “No, ht her hand to his lips and kissed the tips of her fingers

“Then why is it so … so dark?”

Ivana moved closer, waved her hand in front of Isla’s face as she studied her eyes She shot back The shock on Ivana’s face caused a feeling of dread to grasp him by the throat and squeeze

Lachlan stared at Ivana and raised a questioning brow

The lady shook her head in reply, yet he had no idea what that meant

“The recovery process can be long and exhausting,” Ivana said She sat on the edge to the bed, took Isla’s hand and stroked it affectionately “It is not dark in here, but your eyes are yet to heal fully”

Isla gasped, tugged her hand from Ivana’s to touch her eyes, her face “I cannot see Everything is dark” She pulled and prodded her lids, blinked too many times to count “Help me, Lachlan Help me to

sit up”

“Is that wise?” His words of caution conveyed his conflicting euish “Should you not rest a little longer?”

She put her hand to her throat and shook her head “No My throat feels gritty and I … I need to drink”