Chapter 23

That annoying angel. Grumbling, I kicked my boots off and sat down on the side of the bed. Chunks of dirt fell from the soles of them, littering the carpet with brown spots. I laid back, annoyed at how comfortable the bed was, and closed my eyes. Taking a few deep breaths, I tried to center and calm myself as best I could. I was ok, it would be ok; I was alive, and the rest of the team had to be as well. They had known that as soon as Shamshiel had me they were powerless, even Kenneth as a half-breed. I placed my hands on my lower stomach and inhaled deeply, a calming mechanism I had learned in training. Taking slow, deep breaths, inhaling for four and exhaling for four, I allowed myself to feel.

The bed was soft beneath me, my clothes tight and constricting, keeping me grounded. I wiggled my toes, feeling the sensation of my socks slipping over them. Pulling my knees to my chest I gave myself a hug and si