a's

tch my head with a trembling voice, trying

alking about? What do you mean?". She

o lied; I pressed a hand to my chest, feeling a dull ache tha

gh wooden walls, trying to un

I paced the healer's hut, but it did nothing to c

o future, just me alone wit

it ha

hest, making my breath hitch; it w

of the table to steady myself. My vi

a Ry

move but there is no sound reaching me. I could only feel my

, my body drenched with swe

er heart panting heavily pressing a cool cloth against my fo

catch my breath. "Hmmm,"

stiffens.

ching my neck, my skin burning when I saw it-whe

urmur, my voice barely above my breath. "If Ryder

tares at me. "What do you mean,

embled as I traced my neck where the mark burned in my

per. "I saw the mark; it w

ot possible; I guess you're still dreaming while you're awake bec

it be an imagination or just an illusion? I can sense his presenc

that moment, a sharp pang shoots throug

calling me. My body responds before my mind

ing?" Aurora's voice is

ll is guiding me, pushing me forward. The night air be

d barely feel it. My senses are on high alert,

ame through-it

un

ibs, making me freeze and t

a Ry

he was tall and commanding. His presence alone is enough to set my nerves on fire. I wo

he, my voice shaking with a mix of an

sion unreadable. "I should be

pe tying us together and dragging me closer. My body betra

firm despite the whirlwind inside

aybe he was just observing or planning what to do next; for a moment, I was

my spine, igniting a spark between us. It was a burning he

flashes of my vision. The mark. The co

ieve you still feel it, don't you?

t; his strength overpowered mine; although my body

ning?" I curiously asked. "Te

ever leaving mine. "That's becaus

triking, and hit me lik

h who?" My voice was b

tight, controlled. "But something stops

ts. My breath

e," I murmur. "Reje

" Ryder counters, his gri

n didn't break the bond, then.

n, my pulse thundering in my

e flicked his intense golden eyes, filling

ed the words that ma

d you were never meant

wn my spine, cat

ain better," I whisper,

or the first time, I see it

mething you

ick with tension

u hiding fro