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And fall…

Flailing my arms and legs in an attempt to stop my descent.

Then something tugs hard on me, yanking me back.

Gasping, I open my eyes and stare above me. Stare at a concrete ceiling as I try to figure out what just happened.

“Alena…” Raphael groans as if he’s in pain.

Then his beautiful face is in front of me, blocking out the ceiling.

There’s blood all over him. Dripping down his lips and chin.

I roll my eyes down to my own body and see my shirt ripped open.

But being exposed in such a way isn’t what disturbs me the most.

It’s all the blood soaking me.

“What the hell happened?!” I shriek and scramble to sit up.

Raphael presses his hand against my chest and pushes me back down to the bed.

Unfortunately, he presses his hand right on top of my mark, and an extreme surge of pure euphoria rushes through every little nerve in my body.

“Oh… god…” I moan.

Caught in intense throes that dance across the line between ecstasy and agony.

Raphael’s eyes widen in surprise, and he watches me for a second too long before he rips his hand away.

Swallowing big gulps of air, I struggle to get my body to calm down again.

But it’s like he’s lit a spark inside me, and I can’t shake off the awareness of every little nerve beneath my skin vibrating with unfulfilled tension.

Tears burning at the corners of my eyes, I ask breathlessly, “What did you do to me?”

Expression softening, Raphael says, “I repaired our bond.”

His hand reaches for my face, but I quickly turn my head away, avoiding his touch.

Afraid of it.

Raphael recoils, and the pang of pain that hits his soul hits my soul, too.

Immediately, I feel guilty for hurting him.

It’s not that I don’t want him touching me…

I’m just afraid his touch will make me experience that extreme surge again.

“It shouldn’t,” he says, and my gaze snaps to his face.

Did he just read my thoughts? Like he did in the dream?

“Yes,” he purrs inside my head while staring into my eyes.

My heart quickens with anxiety. “Am I awake or still sleeping?”