Asher smirks at me, his eyes twinkling with affection as he pulls me into his strong arms. The warmth of his body presses against mine, and I can feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat as he speaks. “Now that we’ve marked each other, our souls have merged into one,” he explains softly, his voice full of wonder. “That means we can feel what the other feels, hear each other’s thoughts if we choose to, always know each other’s location, and even communicate without speaking.” A flush creeps up my cheeks. The idea of sharing everything with him is both thrilling and terrifying. I want to be completely open, to let him into every corner of my mind, but a part of me worries about burdening him with the weight of my thoughts. His voice echoes in my mind, soft but clear as if he’s standing rig

