Chapter 50

Blair stirred as she slowly became aware of the steady beeping of a heart monitor and the faint murmur of voices around her. The antiseptic scent of the hospital filled her nose, and the stiffness in her body reminded her that she was definitely not in her own bed. Her head ached, a dull, persistent throb, and her ankle was elevated, wrapped tightly. Before she could fully open her eyes, she felt the warm, firm grip of a familiar hand holding hers. “Blair,” Roman’s voice was quiet but filled with intensity. “Are you awake?” She forced her eyes open, blinking against the brightness of the room. Roman was seated beside her, his expression unreadable but the tension in his posture evident. His other hand rested on her thigh over the hospital blanket, his grip grounding her. He looked… well, rumpled. Not his normal self. “Hey,” she murmured, her voice raspy. “You look like hell.” Roman let out a breath, something between a laugh and a scoff. “You’re the one in the hospital bed, sweetheart.