Page 147 of Marked By His Hunger

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And raw with hunger.

And every time I tried to deny it—I’d see his face.

Not the one he wore for the rest of the world but his true face.

Like carved obsidian.

So hauntingly beautiful it hurt to look at him.

I wanted him. I did.

But I replayed Professor Kenna’s words in my head and my stomach turned over.

Wanting wasn’t the problem.

The problem was—I didn’t want to be one of many.

I didn’t want to be a test result.

A compatibility score.

A possible solution.

I wanted a choice and I wanted the truth.

Also, I wanted him to want me.

Not just need me.

Not be assigned to me.

Not be bound to me by some ancient contract.

And that still wasn’t enough.

See, I wanted to be Raven’s only choice.

The storm cracked overhead.

I pressed my hand to my chest.

Whatever bond we’d formed pulsed inside me.

Alive.

Unavoidable.

And even as I told myself to stay away—something deep, ancient, and violet inside me whispered.

Too late.

Chapter 17-Draugr

I should not be here.

And yet, that thought had not stopped me once.

The Asgarheim Runevald Institute slept in layers.

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