#Chapter 164 - Freedom

Lila The first thing I felt was the heat. It pressed against my skin before I was fully awake, a slow, smothering weight that made it hard to breathe. The air was thick, heavy in my lungs, and every inhale carried the sharp sting of smoke. I coughed, eyes watering, the sound swallowed by a low, distant roar. For a moment, I thought I was dreaming again, caught in one of those fevered half-sleeps where shadows flicker and the walls lean in close. But then I heard shouting. A heavy thud jolted me. Someone slammed against the door hard enough to rattle the latch. I staggered to my feet, my bare toes curling against the rug. Another slam, then the latch gave way with a splintering crack. Ronan filled the doorway, backlit by firelight and shadow, his hair damp with sweat, eyes hard and focused. “Up,” he ordered, crossing the room in three long strides. His voice was steady, but there was a tension in it I’d never heard before. “We’re out of time.” Ronan’s arm was already