Esme squeezed her eyes shut when he sank his teeth deeper. Her fingers instinctively gripped his bare shoulder, clutching at him as though anchoring herself against the overwhelming sting.
The moment his bite deepened, something within her shifted. A sudden burst of light illuminated the space as her hair, which had remained dim until now, began to glow with an otherworldly brilliance.
She hadn't even realized what had happened until the warm radiance spilled down her shoulders. Biting her lower lip, Esme fought against the cry that threatened to escape, refusing to show any form of weakness.
No one had warned her that a mating mark would hurt this much. The intensity was staggering, and tears welled up in her eyes, despite the care he was taking. His gentleness was steady and deliberate, but it couldn't mask the piercing burn that etched his claim into her very soul.
