bond between them had snapped into place like a curse, invisible but unbreakable. Alpha Dorian Nightbane had claimed her, and now her very existence was tied to his in ways she couldn't

her she liked it or not. But Seraphina was no stranger to curses. She had lived with them all he

owd slowly began to disperse. They were all too stunned to speak, too shocked to understand what had

ve. They never gave. The silver burned against her skin, but the pain was nothing compared to the searing betrayal sh

suring her, weighing her worth. He stepped closer, his

ronger, pulling her deeper into his

, his voice low, but wi

standa

in a position t

ck. For now. "What exactly do you want from me, Nightbane? You've

ing slightly as he studied her, as if finding amusement in her defiance. "What I want, witch, is

er, and for the first time, Seraphina felt the weight of his words. "I'm cursed," he said,

demanded, her heart pounding. "You what curse? What do you mean, I'll die?" Dorian met her gaze, unflinching. "It's called the B

hina's mind raced, trying to piece together the gravity of his words. His pack, his line

"I chose you because you were already marked for death. It's the only reason I believed you could survive me. You

er because she was already cursed? Because she was expendable? His cold, calculating words made her stomach

tions inside her. "I may be cursed, but I'm no one's pawn. You think yo

ed, but only slightly. "Yo

nd that choice come

mething for me before that happens."

" Dorian's lips curved int

Seraphina froze. "Lift the curse?" "Yes,

ur help, S

e, no one else has the

with death,

ng my pack has seen. And you " he paused, his gaze

a whirl of confusion,

top the curse that hung over him. But why? Why was he trusting her? And why was he so certain she wo

es glinted with something darker now,

reak this curse. If you help me, I will protect you. I wil

unspoken words. Seraphina felt the bond between them tug once more, like a c

me that," she sai

ghtly, but there was no anger, no malice only a calm, unyielding certainty. "I don't need you to trust me, Seraphina. I just need you to play along. For now." She clenched h

hat made Seraphina hesitate. What stopped her was the flicker of something she couldn't place in his eyes a flash of sincerity, of something more than the cold

ted in a barely perceptible smile. "Th

avenged." Seraphina's mind spun, the weight of his wo

knew the only way she might have a cha

he said finally, her voice steady, th

you die with me." Dorian's gaze darkened, but there was no anger in it, only the sharp ed

like static, the bond between th

s with Alphas were always double edged, and she intended to use this one