Page 79 of Scourged

No light has ever burned out their darkness.

Mariah whimpered.

Three times.Three timesshe’d given that journal a chance, and each time, it had stripped her soul from her body and left her raw and bleeding on the floor.

Her bedroom door slammed open. Small, soft hands gripped her forearms, pulling them away from her ears. Wide, concerned amber eyes filled her vision.

“Mariah! Mariah, what’s wrong? What happened?” Ciana’s voice was muffled as if Mariah were trapped underwater. “Matheo! Get in here!”

Mariah still hid against her nightstand, shuddering and sobbing and far away, as Matheo raced in, sliding to a halt when he saw her. He knelt beside Ciana, gentle hands gripping her, silver and sky bond tugging in her gut.

“Mariah? Are you alright? Just breathe, it’s okay. You’re safe. We’re here, you’re home, and you’re safe.” A tug on their bond punctuated each word he said.

And with each tug, Mariah felt herself rising to the surface. Far enough for her to shudder a breath, gasping, and managing two words.

“Take it.”

Ciana and Matheo shared a glance. “Take what?”

Mariah lifted a shaking hand, pointing at the journal lying a few feet away.

“Take it,” she repeated, still whispering. “Keep it hidden and safe, but get itawayfrom me.”

Ciana leaned away from Mariah, taking the journal. She looked at it curiously, reading the name on the cover. “I remember this. Your mother’s journal?”

“Said it would help me,” Mariah forced out, chest still heaving. “But all it does is cause pain.”

“What did you read in it, Mariah?” Matheo’s question was gentle, but his curiosity carried an edge.

Mariah swallowed, meeting his hazel stare.

“Reykr,” she whispered. More tears burned in her eyes, clogging her throat.

Gods, she was tired of this. Of being so fuckingafraid. Her heart was telling her one thing—that everything she’d just read was the dramatic ramblings of some old, ancient relative. Thathershadow-wielder was not like that, that she had burned out whatever darkness was planted in him, and now his familiar shadows sang only for her.

But her body remembered the crack of a metal-tipped whip, the fire as her skin was split. Her mind remembered the image of his lips meeting another’s. Her skin remembered greedy hands stealing her humanity from her, piece by piece.

“Hey. Mariah. Look at me.” Ciana was back, gripping either side of Mariah’s head.

“Whatever you just read, it isn’t true. You said so yourself; this is just a journal from the women in your family. Mostly gibberish. You aresafehere. And you arestrong. Trust yourself, trust your heart, and fuck all the rest.”

Mariah couldn’t speak. Only nodded, refusing to break from Ciana’s stare, latching onto that warm amber like it was her last lifeline at sea.

“I will take the book. I’ll keep it safe and hidden. If you want to see it again, all you must do is ask. But right now, I need you to forget. Focus on the future. The past is done, and we’re leaving itthere.”Ciana released Mariah, stepping back with Matheo to give Mariah space.

Mariah just kept breathing. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Her heart slowly stopped pounding in her ears, her blood no longer rushing through her veins. Her magic had remained unusually quiet, curled in her belly and watching her with slitted eyes.

“You should get some rest,” Matheo murmured.

But Mariah was already standing. Her knees still shook, but she forced herself upright. Ciana gave her a quick nod, clutching the journal to her chest before she spun and left the room in a flurry of golden curls.

Mariah turned to her window and the cushioned seat. “Can you get Trefor?”

“Trefor? Uh, sure.” Matheo shifted as Mariah settled at the window. “Mariah, are you okay?”

“Just want some sun,” she said softly, staring out her bedroom window. “I need a moment. And to speak to Trefor.”

Matheo lingered for a moment, hesitating, before he finally heaved a sigh. “Of course. I’ll be right back. Quentin will be outside if you need anything.”

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