Page 115 of Red's Beast

Ma stands beside me, followed by Pa as they move forward a step, their bodies shielding me.

Pa is the first to speak, his voice gruff. "I think you've been lying to us. Logan is right. You know way too much about what goes on out there. You're trapped in here the same as us, or are you?"

Ma reaches her hand toward him, grabbing his hand in hers. "He's right. We've stood by way too long and dismissed all these occurrences, but now it's all too clear you know something. How do you end my son's curse?"

She cackles as she stands, backing away slowly. "His curse can't end, not as long as I'm alive and he's unmated. You don't want to kill me, though. Not when I've been your only friend all these years."

She's Natalia's coven bonded. I should have known that she would make her sister that. That means all we have to do is kill her to break the final binding. Then I can take Lillian as my mate. Everyone can be saved.

Emmeline glares at me, a look of malice in her eyes. "You're too hopeful, beast."

I'm not too hopeful. All I have to do is end you and then Grandmother can tell Lillian everything. I'll be free and you'll be dead.

She cackles again as she inches toward the door. "Oh, Lucian. You are so naïve. How would you ever leave this realm? You don’t have magic. Besides, killing me won’t work. Not when she’s not really dead. Good luck catching me.”

In a puff of smoke, she disappears.

No! I growl. She isn't getting away this easily.

As I lunge for the door, Logan grabs a hold of my shoulder on one side, while Pa grabs the other.

"No, son. You don't know what kind of trap you're walking into. We're on her playing field and one wrong move could end you. Then what good would you be to anyone? She's got something up her sleeve and we need to think this through."

Think this through? She's at her house waiting for us to crumble before she kills us all or casts another spell. She's no better than her sister. Lillian needs me and I have to get back before something happens with Corbin.

Ma looks at me blankly. "I wish we could understand you instead of all the growls and snarls. Though I know you are upset, I don't know if you have a plan or are blindly rushing into it. I'm guessing the latter."

Leave it to my mother to guess I'm going in blind. She knows me all too well, even though she hasn't seen me for all these years.

I calm and sit on my back legs, waiting for their thoughts on the matter. Honestly, we don't have time to waste. My main goal is killing the witch so everyone is free to discuss the curse, then take what is mine.

I'm coming for you, my Lily. You and I will never be apart again. No witch or realm will stand between us ever again.

Logan leans down, brushing his hand across the fur on my face. "What do we need to do for you to be free of this curse?"

Kill the witch, for starters. Ripping her head from her shoulders would be a good start. I huff out a breath, hoping they will know what I mean.

"I understand killing the witch just from what we heard, but then what? Can your supposed mate really free you? What does she have to do?" Ma asks.

Become my mate. I freeze for a minute. The curse should break once we exchange bites, but that's all I know. It's not like Natalia really went in depth on my curse and there is the fact that I passed out as she was casting it.

Could I have forgotten some important detail? What else could there be?

Suddenly, Emmeline's voice sounds around us, though she isn't here and it startles me. I stand with a growl as she speaks.

"The clock is ticking. Lillian is taking Corbin's deal, so even if you kill me, you won't be able to do anything about your curse or escape here. Sure, you can talk about it, but what good does that do you? You won't be able to fulfill the last part," she says with a laugh, and it grows quiet again.

Why does she always pop up? Can she hear my thoughts even from afar?

"Yes, Lucian. I can hear you even at a distance," she cackles. "You might as well give up now because there isn't a way to save you anymore. Even if you kill me, and Lillian isn't mated toCorbin, will she be willing to do what it takes to free you? Do you even know the last part of the requirement?"

Sighing, I sit back and stare at my family. This just sucks.

Lillian

Corbin leans closer, his hands making their way down my arms. "So, what do you say, Lillian? Be mine and save the beast or refuse and he stays wherever he is?"

My body shakes as I feel his hands rubbing down my arms again. The repeated motion should soothe me, but in his case, it just disgusts me further.

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