When Aurora regained consciousness, she had no idea how long she'd been out.
The room was dim, and her head throbbed with pain.
She could barely make out the faces of the other captives in the warehouse, their terrified eyes reflecting the helplessness she felt.
Aurora tried to sit up, clutching her head, but her strength was failing her.
She had tried, and she had failed.
She was alone, in a dark, isolated place, surrounded by people who saw her as nothing more than a price tag.
---
The soft rays of morning sunlight crept through the heavy curtains, illuminating the elegant bedroom of Daemon Caelestis-Medallion.
The room was still, too still for his liking, and Daemon stirred awake, his senses immediately alert.
As he turned to the side, his heart sank—Aurora wasn't in bed beside him.
The sheets were cold and untouched on her side, a stark reminder that she had slipped away during the wee morning.