CHAPTER 33. Failure

  I can’t remember when I dozed off, but I noticed we were still in the car when I slowly stirred awake. I peered up, remembering the pain in Isaac’s eyes. A part of him broke when the mark wouldn’t stick.  

  With Liam, it was different. After he marked me, my heat simmered on, but with Isaac, it did stop; just the mark didn’t stay. 

  I told him it would be okay, not wanting him to try again. But he did. Again and again. 

  And eventually, he stopped trying. 

  We had to talk about it, but he kept saying he was fine. Liar. 

  I had to give him some time, to process everything, and so did I. 

  There was one thing that remained. I could still feel him, more than before. His feelings and thoughts all lingered inside me, at least when he didn’t shield himself off. 

  I never had that with Liam, but the tether between me and Isaac was stronger even without the mark.