The morning arrived too soon.
I had barely slept, the weight of Lucian’s words pressing down on me like a vice. You know this is bigger than just you and me. The worst part was that I did. I knew it. But that didn’t mean I had to like it.
The thought of being marked in front of everyone, of becoming his in a way that was irreversible, sent a whirlwind of conflicting emotions spiraling inside me.
And yet, there was a part of me that wasn’t just resisting out of principle. A part of me that was terrified—because once it happened, there would be no more denying what I already felt.
I sat on the edge of the massive bed, staring at my hands. They were shaking.
A knock at the door made me jump.
I inhaled sharply before forcing my voice to remain steady. “Come in.”
The door opened, and Kil
