Page 224 of Marked By His Hunger
“You may call me Raven,” he replied.
Her eyebrow lifted.
But she didn’t correct him.
Interesting.
“You remained,” she observed.
“I will always remain by my mate’s side,” he said simply.
Not defiant.
Not aggressive.
Certain.
The bond surged in agreement, warm and steady.
Professor Kenna watched us both for a long moment.
Then—something shifted.
Subtle.
But unmistakable.
Acceptance.
Or at least—acknowledgment.
“The contract,” she said finally, her voice quieter now, “was designed to prevent exactly this kind of destabilization.”
My stomach tightened.
Raven went still beside me.
“And yet,” she continued, “it appears that what we feared has instead resolved itself.”
I frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Her gaze returned to me.
“It means, Miss Notte, that the Draugr’s curse has not escalated.”
She paused.
“It has evolved.”
My breath caught.
Beside me, Raven didn’t move.
Didn’t breathe.
“The hunger that once drove him to the brink of destruction,” she said, “has found equilibrium.”
