Selene had been pushing herself too hard. She knew it. But she didn't have a choice.
Three days since the mate bond had snapped into place. Three days of constant pain, fever, and the overwhelming pull toward Damian that she was desperately fighting.
Three days of trying to maintain her disguise, do her work, and survive the bond's torture all at once.
And she was failing.
The physical symptoms were getting worse, not better. The pain came in waves now, each one stronger than the last. The fever hadn't broken. She couldn't keep food down. Could barely sleep.
But she had to keep working. Had to maintain her cover as Sera Ashwood, the competent servant. Couldn't draw attention by suddenly being too sick to function.
So she forced herself out of bed every morning. Forced herself through her duties. Forced herself to ignore the constant ache and the wolf howling inside her to go to him, to complete the bond, to end this agony.
