(Olivia's POV)

As the excruciating pain of the severed mate bond finally began to ebb, I lay on the bed trying to catch my breath and regain my composure. My entire body felt like it had been torn apart and hastily reassembled, every nerve ending still screaming from the magical trauma.

The ancient bond that had connected Alexander and me since our first meeting was finally, irrevocably broken. I could feel the empty space where that connection used to exist, like a phantom limb ...