POV: Thelma

The fire inside me was consuming everything. Every breath felt like swallowing flames, every heartbeat sent waves of burning pain through my chest. I could feel my life slipping away with each passing second, but I wasn't going to die without fighting for what I wanted.

What I wanted was Xavier. What I wanted was to live. And if completing our mate bond could give me both, then I would take it gladly.

"Are you sure?" Xavier asked, his dark eyes searching my face desperately. "Thelma, once we do this, there's no going back. The bond will be permanent."

"I'm sure," I whispered, pulling his face down to...