Nicolas POV

For what seemed like the hundredth time this morning, Zara's cute face kept popping into my mind.

"Something feels off," I murmured to myself. "I should not be affected by the bond anymore. By now, it ought to have been severed. The mating ritual happened nearly a week ago."

I sighed with annoyance, set the pen down on my desk, and peered out the window.

The memory of meeting Zara held my thoughts captive all the time. Her beauty was even more striking up ...