Ali

I sigh, as my frustration gives way to concern. "It means that we're now connected on a level that goes beyond anything you've ever experienced. Our souls are bound together, and our emotions, our thoughts, they're intertwined. You'll feel what I feel, and I'll feel what you feel. It's a bond that can't be broken."

Xei's eyes soften, and he moves closer to me, taking my hands in his. "I know, Ali," he says gently, "but it's not something we can change now. It's a part of who we are, a connection that's forged between mates. And I want you to understand that I don't regret it. I don't regret sharing my blood with you."

I search his eyes, knowing that my own is filled with uncertainty. "But why, Xei? Why would you do something so significant without my consent?”

Xei's gaze held my own, unwavering. "Because I love you, Ali," he says simply. "And I couldn't stand the thought of you in pain, of you suffering. I couldn't let you go through that alone. I know you may not feel the same way,