NIKOLAI
Tyce leaned back in his chair, dragging his hands back and forth through his dark hair. The movement left pieces of it sticking up in all different directions.
“I just wish…” He trailed off, exhaling sharply. “I just wish I’d marked her.” His voice cracked. “I wanted to. But she was adamant about waiting until marriage. She didn’t want to look bad in front of our parents.” He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “That s**t’s so outdated. It’s not like they don’t already know what we’re up to.”
His shoulders sagged as he let out a heavy sigh. The weight of his regret was palpable. “If she were marked,” he rasped in a raw voice, “I’d at least know where she is. I could feel her. I’d know she was safe. But…” His voice faltered, splintering into something dark and helpless.
Cr
