rabbed a black candle from the corner and placed it in the center of the table. The room seem

d. "We need to test the boundaries of this curse. If I'm g

r nimble fingers as she sorted through her via

"Simple. I'll summon

"Summon it? Won't t

you apart, isn't it? We need to see what we're dealing with. I'll anchor the

clenched. "

s. The flame burned blue, casting an eerie glow across her face. "Your connection to the curse i

yes. "You're asking me to wrestle with the be

s glimmered with a sharp intensity. "Unless you'd prefer t

spoke to him, the way she poked at his pride as if it we

h gritted teeth. "Let'

pproval. "Good. Sit there." She gestured to a woode

hair. The wood creaked under his weight, and he sat

a powdery mix that smelled faintly of sulfur. The air grew heavier with

awing?" he asked

thout looking up. "It'll keep the curs

s comf

sound light and fleeting.

oba

rt, and met his eyes with a challenging look.

nder his breath

her expression turn

honestly, hi

o b

e words were ancient, foreign, and charged with power. The blue flame of the c

pulling at the edges of his consciousness. He clenched his fis

warned, her voice cut

pressing against him, cold and suffocating. A low growl rumbled from his chest

is voice strained. "Wha

id, her tone steady despite the tension

g into the arms of the chair. His body trembled as the beast surg

ow, commanding. She raised her hands

ircle. It pulsed with a malevolent energy, and Ciaran's eyes widened as

uttural growl, his fangs elongatin

ds moved in intricate patterns, weaving the energy around them

e sound of her voice, grounding himself. He drew on every ou

gic. She gritted her teeth, sweat beading on her f

k into submission. The shadows exploded outward, then dis

ragged and shallow. His hands were trem

breathing unsteady. She studied h

oment, her voice soft but

glare. "That's o

news is, I know what we're dealing with now. The bad news

stion pulling at him. "Great.

nt of worry in her gaze as she looked at h

watched her. Despite everything, he couldn't shake the feeling tha