didn

ed. The dream was still fresh in her mind - the one where she stood on a cliff, holding the dagger. Where D

g her grip on

only just starting t

ame th

and Damian stood on the other side, dressed

," he

moving. "So you can

o the sarcasm. "You asked what I wanted

hesi

but her mind whispered, if you don't

ed him throu

-

to was not like th

candle wax. Symbols were etched into the floor in a perfect ring. In

eside it. One was empty. One held what looke

lace?" she aske

sealed for generations. Only blood of bo

ned. "Bo

nd the Cruz lines

ou mean... this whole thing,

expressio

rom her. Elena. He thought it would protect us. But instead... it turned on us. She tu

too much. You talk about curses, blood magic, p

you to

e. "Choo

d toward t

it to obey you. If your blood still holds t

at if I

feeling a weight you don't understand. And this -" he pointe

ooked

shimmered faintl

bled as she s

e didn't, she'd never escape. No

eyes... and tou

-

exploded fro

e, she didn'

ough her arm, b

by one, a chain reaction of ancient power. The f

lted into her hand - no

-

w ever

ding in the

kthorn, smi

her over the blad

ppiness di

the blade was made to contro

she

blade inside

bloodline would neve

-

d as the vi

o her knees,

beside her

you h

ook he

him. But he... he betrayed her.

red at her

a whispered. "She was t

thing for

ce: "So the Blackt

e was wrong too. She ran

ked at e

ar. Just two people stand

eyes on the glowing s

ens now?"

aint smile - th