Kael POV

She fell asleep soon after the servants finished moving her things, curled on her side with one hand tucked under her cheek and her black hair spilling across the pillow like silk.

She looked peaceful, but I could see the toll this was taking on her. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, her skin was too pale, and her breathing came shallow and uneven.

Dragging out the mating bond was draining her life force, killing her slowly with each passing day. I didn’t want to sleep with her ...