I didn’t sleep at all.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Damien’s face—the pain, the fury, the heartbreak. His words replayed in my head over and over, stabbing deeper each time.

‘Now you have his mark on your neck.’

I pressed my hand to the spot again, feeling the faint burn beneath my skin. I hated it. I hated what it meant. I hated that I’d hurt him.

The room was still dark when I gave up on sleep entirely. My body felt heavy, my mind scattered. As the first light of dawn crept through the window, I forced myself out of bed. My legs trembled as I...