o darkness. Ciaran's senses, heightened by the curse and the lingering effects of their sp

everything that had just happened. The darkness he had fought back-was it a manifestati

voice hoarse from the battl

away. She was silent for a long moment, as if weighing some

the very word annoyed her. "You want to know

to waste time. I need answers, Selene. I can feel it getting

was a flicker of something else behind her eyes-something not quite as col

easy." She walked across the room, her fingers trailing along the edge of a shelf filled with ancient books and potions. "We need to get deeper into the magic, i

f those words sat heavily on his chest. "So what are yo

arefully. "Something like that. But it's dangerous, Ciaran. I can't guarant

't care about the consequences. I'll do whatever

e. She turned back to face him, and for the first time, there

e felt the weight of the situation in a way that was impossible to ignore

to do," he said, hi

ing smile. "First, you need to rest. You're exhau

, irritated at the ide

room and retrieved a small vial filled with a

vial suspiciousl

the bottle and holding it out to him. "I can't h

e to

to answer the question directly. "Just dri

ion. It didn't taste like anything he had ever experienced-sweet and bitter at the same time, a strange combination t

ed, raising an eyebr

quickly, his mind clearing like the mist after a storm. It wasn't perfect-he still felt the

uttered. "Th

d. "Because now co

ch tightened.

enter the deeper layers of your curse. It's not just about magic. I'll be diving into the deepest parts of your mind, yo

seriousness of the moment sinking in.

harder in his chest. "Y

e curse is a twisted thing, Ciaran. And if Lucius made sure that it latched onto your soul, then

have someone inside his mind-let alone someone like Selene. The thought of her rummaging throug

e quieter now, a subtle desperation creeping i

tting through the tension. "You didn't ask. But you need me.

in. There was no turning back now. They were

er it takes," h

r a heartbeat, there was no anger or bitter

's begin,

more, the magic in the room intensifying, wrapping around them like a cloak. C