Page 162 of Marked By His Hunger
“I’ve been watching you for weeks,” he said. “Stalking your footsteps. Trying to find the nerve to speak with you. But you retreat.”
His tone wasn’t accusatory.
It was wounded.
That hit harder.
“You’re the one who walked away and never looked back,” I said.
“After the infirmary,” he continued quietly, “I believed it was the safest thing for you.”
Safest?
“I’m sorry, but you said I was your fated mate. I thought that meant I was special. But Professor Kenna said every new student must take a test to see if they match with you,” I said, standing.
“Shit. Serena, that’s not?—”
“Don’t bother lying.”
“I am not lying. I couldn’t lie to you, Unnasta. But you do deserve an explanation.”
“You don’t owe me anything,” I replied immediately.
But his jaw tightened.
He wanted to talk, but I didn’t know if I was ready to listen.
Not when just looking at him seemed to rip my heart out of my chest.
“I would ask you to come with me.”
It wasn’t quite a command.
But it wasn’t a suggestion either.
I should have hesitated.
I didn’t.
The closer I moved to him, the more the hunger eased.
Not gone.
Balanced.
Like a scale finding equilibrium.
Relief poured through me so suddenly I nearly swayed.
And he felt it.
His expression shifted—subtle but unmistakable.
“Come with me. Please,” he murmured.
I swayed on my feet, and Raven’s nostrils flared as he looked down at me and raised his hands.
He brushed his fingertips down my cheek, and when my knees would have given out, he wrapped me in his arms.
