~Valerie~
The sun hitting my face feels like a personal attack. I wake up with my body feeling heavy and sore, my muscles aching in places I didn’t even know could hurt. For a second, I’m confused, lost in the fog of sleep. Then I move my head, and a sharp sting in my neck brings it all back.
I reach up, my fingers trembling as they graze the skin. The bruise is there. It’s thick and swollen under my touch. I scramble out of bed and rush to the mirror, pulling my hair away from my throat.
I gasp. It’s worse than it felt in the dark. The mark Ronan left is purple and loud, a messy blotch right over my pulse. It looks like a brand. It looks like a claim. Every time my heart beats, the bruise throbs, reminding me of his teeth and the way he growled into my ear.
After taking my bath, I spe
