Kieran's POV:~~~A heavy, suffocating fog clings to my mind, refusing to lift.Alone in my study, I stare at the empty porcelain cup in my hand. The tea the maids bring always tastes bitter, earthy, and metallic, but I drink it anyway to soothe the strange, inexplicable ache burning deep within me.My beast, usually roaring and restless at the slightest provocation, feels strangely heavy today. It hides in the dark corners of my mind, sluggish, silent, and barely tracking the world around us.I have no idea why my instincts are so dulled, but the fog makes it nearly impossible to think straight.Despite the thick haze clouding my mind, the doubt remains. It claws at my sanity like a persistent parasite.Three days ago, I saw the marks blooming across Victoria's neck and collarbone, the undeniable evidence of my savage claim from the cabin.Yet, whenever I reach for her hand, the mate bond feels dead. There is no spark, no primal fire. Only a cold, vast numbness that freezes my blood.
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