Everyone falls silent, and I take her hand, slowly tugging her down beside me again.

She glances at Leo, who now sits forward.

“I care about you. We all do. We’re worried about you, Kareena, about this pup. Let us help you.” He says quietly, his voice is firm and emotionless, but we all know beyond that, Leo has a heart of gold, and he means it.

She clutches her neck, her eyes stinging as she tries to control herself. Blood trickles down her neck where she’s digging her fingers in and Li Sheng looks away first.

“I won’t let anyone remove his mark from me.” She says quietly, her...