Ilona slept fitfully, but at least she slept. And for the first time in thousands of years, she didn't dream.
She still woke with tears on her face, her throat tight and her breath coming in shallow gasps. It took her a moment to realize she'd been crying in her sleep. Perfect.
She sat up quickly, swiping at her eyes and trying to swallow back sniffles. It would be just her luck if her ornery companion was still awake.
Wait.
How long had she slept?
Sudden panic overtook her and she scrambled clumsily to her feet. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as he breathing tiptoed toward a frantic panting. What if--what if the spell wasn't fully broken? What if she had been entombed in this place, trapped again? What if--what if--
"Ehvren?" Her voice shook as she spun, trying to find him. He was surly and inappropriate and sometimes a little terrifying, but in that moment she desperately needed to see something, anything to reassure her that she had not been lost again.