Chapter 9

VALERIA’S POV I woke up with a sudden jerk, gasping as if the weight of the lake’s water was still pressing against my chest. My heart pounded in my ears, my lungs desperate for air. When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on the soft grass on the other side of the lake. The night was eerily quiet, the only sound the gentle lapping of water against the shore. I blinked, disoriented. How did I survive? I was certain I had drowned. I remembered the freezing cold, the overwhelming darkness, and the peace that came with the thought of finally escaping the pain. But here I was, alive. I pressed a trembling hand to my chest, expecting to feel broken ribs or bruises from Magnar’s attack, but my body felt...whole. I pushed myself upright, hesitant, and looked down at my hands. There were no cuts, no bruises—nothing. My skin was unmarred, the wounds I knew I had suffered were gone. How was this possible? A shiver ran down my spine. “Was it all a dream?” I whispered to myself, but even as I