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Not ever.

“Are you sure, Serena?” he growled, voice low, dangerous, filled with something that wasn’t just desire.

“If you allow me to have you, I will never let you go.”

The promise in his eyes wasn’t a metaphor.

It wasn’t romance.

It was truth.

Raw and absolute.

Did I want this?

Did I want him?

Did I want to belong to this Monster—this ancient, cursed, powerful being who could ruin me completely?

The questions flickered.

Brief.

Insignificant.

Because underneath them—I already knew my answer.

Yes.

I didn’t want to be alone anymore.

I didn’t want to go back to being the scared, strange girl who saw things no one else could.

Asgarheim Runevald Institute was teaching me to own what I was.

And Raven—Raven felt like the future I never believed I could have.

“Yes,” I said aloud, the word solid, unshakable.

His eyes flared brighter.

The bond echoed the moment, snapping tighter between us.

“I want you, Raven. I want to be yours. Need you.”

“Our bond is sealed with blood,” he warned, voice rough now, barely controlled. “I will claim you with my bite. I need to drink from you, Unnasta. You have no idea how strongly I thirst.”

“I know, I feel it too,” I whispered.

And I did.

God help me, I did.

That hunger wasn’t just his anymore.

It lived inside me.

He kissed me again.