#Chapter 236: Awake

Amber’s POV I blinked open my eyes and was immediately blinded by the bright lights. Wincing, I closed my eyes again, at least until they could adjust. When they did, I glanced around. Seeing the medical equipment, I knew at once I was in the hospital. Tilting my head, I found Julian seated at my side. His hand was on the mattress, holding mine. I looked down at how our fingers were intertwined. He wasn’t looking at me in the moment, but instead his eyes were on his phone. A line split his brow, making him seem troubled. I wondered what he was reading, then remembered, unlike in my unconscious dreaming when I had been viewing memories, I could interact in reality. In the present. “What are you reading?” I asked. “Oh, just some emails from the council about…” he stopped, then startled so badly that he nearly dropped his phone. In a rush, he looked to me. Seeing me awake, he immediately cast his phone to the side, stood and reached for me. “Amber! Gods, you are awake!” I all