Chapter 174: Accepting Reality

LUMINA

I felt bile rise in my throat as I thought about all the times Riley had mentioned being "taught lessons" or "practicing magic." All those innocent-sounding phrases had been euphemisms for abuse and torture.

My baby boy had been used as a test subject for curse magic, had been deliberately hurt over and over again by an adult who should have cared for him.

"He still thinks of Sophia as his mama," I said, my voice hollow with grief and fury. "Did you hear the way he talked about her? Like she's just away on a trip and will come back soon. He has no...