Page 132 of Cursed Heirs

“Given how much black magic he’s infected her with since and that being his favored way of doing it to take his pleasure and revel in her humiliation and degradation, it’s clear incidents like that occurred throughout her time in his captivity,” Marlowe told me, grimacing as he spoke the awful words.

“Motherfuck,” I choked. “How do we help her throughthat?”

“With time and patience and listening to her needs while tabling your own,” Marlowe told me.

My father nodded. “Precisely.”

I shook my head. “This is going to manifest dangerously.”

“Orpheus, you have a big heart, you love this woman, you can do this,” my father told me.

“It’s not that. It’s the black magic.”

“A few more hours and it will be—”

“A few more hours and you’ll be dead.”

He frowned. “That’s why you’re here. For us to say our goodbyes.”

“No. Our goodbye will be temporary only.”

“What are you talking about?” Marlowe asked.

I eased onto the other side of the bed opposite him and took my father’s hand. “Abigail will be here shortly to put you in stasis. She has a solution to cure you of the infection completely, but it’s not ready yet, so this will buy us some time.”

A whole lot of shock flitted across his features.

He looked at Marlowe, who shook his head.

“Orpheus,” he said, eyeing me. “There is no way. I don’t know what Abigail was possibly referring to, but it can’t be done. Imean, unless she obliterated it with her celestial magic, but that would destroy her.”

“It must have something to do withSabre Tech.Melding technological innovation with magic. So much more is possible through that.”

They both looked skeptical.

“Why would she offer this if there wasn’t truly a solution?” I put to them.

“That’s true,” Marlowe mused. “She speaks plainly and she certainly doesn’t offer false hope.”

My father slowly nodded, but then he started shaking his head. “If you do this, Alena will still be infected with too much black magic for it not to impact her.”

“She’s agreed. Actually, she insisted.”

Realization shone in his eyes. “You’re going to school her on what you do better than anyone—walking that line.”

“Yes.” Although with what they’d just shown me and the nature in which it had occurred, that was going to be complicated. It would surely be a severe trigger for her. I wasn’t sure I could stabilize her.

But I wasn’t alone. Xavier and Talon would be right by her side also. Together, we’d find a way to make it work.

Before he could protest further, I moved things along, telling him, “While you’re in stasis, I’ll hand command to Edgar and Cassius for day-to-day rule. I need to remain at Electi Academy to both assist Alena and to prepare my army.” I told Marlowe, “Final and executive decisions come to me, the buck will stop at me only.”

He smiled. “Absolutely.”

My father reached out and grasped my hand, his weak grip sending a shudder through me. “Myson,my heir,” he uttered, emotion clogging his throat. “My greatest creation.”

Marlowe stood up. “I’ll give the two of you some time alone.” He gazed at my father, adoration bleeding forth. “Enjoy your sleep. I’ll see you soon, darling King.”

“Don’t do anything Iwould.”

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