Lyra's POV
As I sit up on the bed,a haze clouds my memory,making me struggle to piece together how I ended up here.Images from last night flood my mind—confrontations with my uncle,Kessler confining me to a room,and the moment he angrily dragged me to his chamber.The recollection makes me gasp,and I hurry to the mirror to check for the mark.I feel disgusted seeing it.
The intensity of Kessler's Alpha aura must have overwhelmed me,causing me to pass out.In a daze,I rush to the bathroom.I look through the mirror,and the mark on my neck haunts me.I can't escape the fact that I am now unmistakably tied to Kessler,the one person I never wanted to be connected with.
I undress,feeling vulnerable and exposed.I clutch the sponge tightly and scrub my neck vigorously,desperate to erase the
