“Then claim me as yours. Put the collar around my neck, if you can bring yourself to do so, because then I’ll know.” One eye opened, and his head tilted to one side as he spoke. “Every time I move, every time I walk into a room, at home, at work, in public, I’ll feel the cool metal ring against my skin, reminding me of whom I belong to, of whom I serve—you, Sage, it will always be you. If you give me this, I’ll never take a step wrong again, I promise.”
