Chapter 180

**Paige’s POV ** For a heartbeat, I forget how to breathe. The faint glow isn’t fading. It’s sinking into him. Parker’s skin is warm, and the symbol over his heart is unmistakable. It’s a delicate pattern of gold, two shapes intertwining as if they were always meant to fit together. “Oh god,” I whisper, pulling back. “Parker, I didn’t mean…” “Paige,” he says gently, catching my hand before I can snatch it away. His fingers curl around mine. “It’s okay.” “I marked you, and I didn’t even know I could do that. I didn’t even know what I was doing.” “You didn’t hurt me.” “That’s not…” I swallow. “Parker… I just put something on you that you didn’t choose.” “I did choose it.” His voice is so soft I almost miss the tremor beneath it. “I chose you.” The words hit something deep inside me, something that has been pulled tight all day, stretched thin with fear and guilt and too much power humming under my skin, and it breaks. I lean in, my forehead pressing against his, and my breath shaky again