The cold, unforgiving light of a new dawn bled through the heavy velvet curtains of the guest chamber, bringing no peace, only a blinding, throbbing ache. Olivia groaned, forcing her heavy eyelids open as a wave of sheer exhaustion and mental chaos crashed over her. Last night had been a relentless, suffocating storm of madness, and her body was paying the price.
"Ugh... my head," she muttered, pressing the palm of her hand against her temple. "Damn it."
Before the curse could fully form on her lips, something freezing cold brushed against her pale cheek. She flinched slightly, her sharp eyes snapping over to see Kyle standing over the bed, casually pressing a glass of ice-cold water into her hand.
"Do you always wake up cursing like that, sister?" Kyle asked, a faint, weary trace of amusement in his deep voice. "You really need to change your habits. You are, as you well know..."
