Lucius's POV

As I left Elara’s chamber, her words kept ringing in my mind like a bittersweet song I couldn’t escape. The night air was dry and the wind cold, however it did nothing to clear the burden on my mind The revelation of Raine’s curse weighed heavily on my chest, and it was becoming suffocating.

"The curse will activate the moment you claim her as yours..."

I held my fists tight as I walked through the hall to my study. Raine’s face appeared in my mind, her soft features, her beautiful face, one that showed how much she had been through, despite her smile. How could I, knowing what...