My heart felt like it was about to burst from my chest. If only the resistance knew about Stefano's plans... Alessandro and the others could help him strategize or support whatever he was scheming. For the first time in days, hope flickered inside me, mixing with a strange sense of relief. Maybe, just maybe, I didn't need to feel guilty for wanting to stay with him.

Curiosity bubbled up, and I longed to ask more about the curse, but Stefano insisted we sleep. I thought about pushing him for answers, but weariness weighed down my eyelids until I finally surrendered to sleep.

At dawn, Stefano woke me. We had to...