Page 101 of Heirs of the Cursed

She didn’t know for how long she clung to her father, imploring the goddesses to protect him. But as they parted, her eyes were so swollen it hurt to blink. Gion Voreia was a good person. A father who had taught Darcia everything she knew. From history and fables, to the beauty of love and mercy.

She’d learned so much from the broken-hearted man who had raised her as his own child so she wouldn’t be alone ever again. And for that, Darcia would always be indebted to him.

“You were born into this world to make it a better place. You’re far more powerful than you have been led to believe,” Gion said, his expression tinged with sorrow. “Despite all that you have suffered and survived, I want you to know that we did our best to protect you and give you a home.”

“I know, Father.”

Gion grabbed his daughter’s shoulders and stared at her. His face was so serious that Darcia trembled. She wasn’t going to be able to say goodbye to him.

“The pendant around your neck, never take it off. Don’t give it to anyone, do you hear me?” Gion insisted and kissed her forehead only after she nodded in a silent promise. “You must follow the light.”

“The light?” she inquired, frowning. “I don’t understand.”

He dragged the back of his hands across her cheeks to brush away her tears. “I love you very much, and so did Lisabetta.”

“But she never met me . . .”

“She did,” Gion revealed. “And she’d be so proud of the woman you have become.”

Darcia opened her mouth to respond, to ask for explanations regarding her stepbrother’s mother, but the words had abandoned her. In her silence, her emotions took hold of her, until her magic stirred with a voracious hunger inside her veins,asking to be set free. She wasn’t sure how long she could maintain control.

“You’ll have to hide for a while, settle somewhere discreet. Caeli will make sure you are contacted . . .”

“Father, stop,” she implored while shaking her head. “I need you to explain what’s happening.”

But Alasdair interrupted just in time, focusing his gaze on her. “We need to go. There’s not much time.”

Darcia didn’t feel ready to leave her father behind, she never would. She hugged him one last time, breathing in the soft fragrance of ink and old books from his clothes to hold it in her memories until they found one another. Her father’s hand traveled to her cheek and admired her in silence, as if he too, were taking in the moment.

“I’ll find you, I promise,” she vowed. “And we will have the life we’ve always dreamed of.”

“Be strong, my little one,” he whispered, giving her hand a tight squeeze before letting go. “And remember that I’ll always be with you, even if you can’t see me. The world has been unfair to you. All the sacrifices I have made, that Lisabetta made, to have you in our lives, were worth it. You are our daughter, no matter what happens.”

This was a farewell, one whose end Darcia couldn’t see in time.

She wished that Gion had raised her to be a selfish person. She wished that things didn’t matter to her as much as they did. She wished she could have her family and be happy by their side—even if it meant pain and suffering for others.

But Darcia knew that one can’t always have what they want.

“I love you,” she whispered, a sad tremor in her voice.

“And I love you, my child. We will see each other again. I swear by the Triad.”

Darcia helped him onto the horse and held out the reins for him as her father offered her one last look. His smile held allthe love he had for her and how much he would still love her, no matter the distance.

She kept her gaze on her father’s shadow until the flames blazing in the oil lamp flickered and vanished into the night’s mist.

28

Bellmare

Naithea and Ward spent every free moment in each other’s company, ignoring the destruction that loomed over the kingdom. As if neither of them had duties to fulfill but to care forwhat they could build if there weren’t chains around their necks, forbidding them to pursue that life they both wanted but none dared to speak aloud.

They’d spent the night in one of the brothel’s many rooms—kissing, laughing, and delighting in each other’s caresses.

Surrounded by those four walls, it was just him and her.

In the early morning, they still lay in an embrace. Her entire upper body was above his hard chest, where she could feel his erratic heartbeats. Despite his gaze, lost in the ceiling, Ward caressed her naked back in soft movements.

---