*Blanca*

I awake sometime in the middle of the night. When I first got back to my room, I took a long shower and scrubbed my flesh raw. Then, I got dressed in as many layers as I could and fell into bed, exhausted. My mind had gone crazy, even in my dreams, trying to sort out everything that had happened.

I’d lied to my parents.

Father asked me if I’d found my mate, and I’d said no. Even as I’d spoken the words, the mark Kieran had left in my flesh began to throb. ...