Fane

ent to the rage simmering beneath the calm, controlled surface he presented to the world. My own breathi

But the moments stretched, each one a wire pulled taut. When I finally risked opening my eyes, he was no longer looming over me. He was sitting on the

light of dawn bled through the window, tracing the hard lines of h

laced the ceremonial fang on his nightstand and turned to me. His face was wiped clean of last night's cold fu

leading tenor he used when he wanted to pull me ba

e sheet to my chin.

t the instinct to flinch. His touch was a brand, a claim. He saw the tremor

sser, retrieving a small box. Not the one from last night. This one was black velvet, flat and square. Expensive. "It'

mattress dipping under his

ernal luminescence. It was strung on a chain of what looked like braided silver, but it didn't burn my skin when he lifted it. It was a pre-m

his was a cage made o

rent. "It will amplify our bond, even before t

ts. De-escalate. Redefine. Survive. I put my hand over the box,

I said, my voice careful

"Nothing is too b

lightly, and I clasped them in my lap. "I want our bond to be about *us*. Simple. Personal." I risked a small, hesitant smile. "What if... what if we made our own? I c

ng-a symbol of our bond-but on

assessing stillness. I saw the calculation in his eyes, the weighing of my words. Then, slowly, the smile returned, but it didn't quite

lief, sharp and dizzying, washed throu

and at the base of my fingers. The ones I'd earned from years of mending pack f

cold, quiet fury that was terrifying in its intensity. It wasn't di

ed, his voice dangerously soft. "

r, he pulled me into his arms, his grip unyielding. I was unsettled, a new kind of fear creepin

could feel the frantic, angry thrum of his heart. "It's okay," I murmured against his shirt. "It's all in the

a desperate appeal to h

rked to

possessive ecstasy. He buried his face in my hair, inhaling deeply. "Y

the adoring mate returned. "Go get ready," he said softly. "I'll take you in

of the room. As the bathroom door clicked shut be

nal. He opened it to a new page. I heard

I couldn't see the words.

ds bleed. My Luna

sponse to my despera

knows she is M

he newest entry. My gaze caught on a passage from a week ago, one I'd missed last night. It w

. So fragile. I must be more careful. Punishment for me: one hour wi

was st