"Then mark me."
A heavy silence settled between them, thick with the weight of her request. Sasha's breathing slowed, his black eyes carefully searching her face to ensure he had heard her correctly. He cupped her face gently, his thumb tracing softly over her cheek, his touch feather-light, as if she would shatter if he pressed too hard.
"Are you sure, Aylin?" Sasha murmured, his voice a rough whisper tinged with barely contained longing. His gaze was intense, guarded but hopeful. "You must be sure; once done, there's no going back."
Aylin took a deep breath, leaning slightly into the warmth of his palm, her gaze unwavering. "I have never felt more certain about anything," she said firmly. "I do not want to feel Silas' bond pull any longer. "If you mark me, if you claim me, he loses any right he ever had to me. And I want him to know that I am yours."
