Page 64 of House of Demons and Bones

“If it was anyone else, she would’ve won,” I said, scanning the heirs. “But curses bounce off me. When she came at me, I hit back harder.” Sy had clawed at the Fury, snagging her name in the process. “Bayrose ran. She stayed hidden whenever I was near you, until now. She knows the game’s up.”

“Shit!” Killian shouted. “Cade’s lips!”

Silas and Louis rushed over. We all stared at Cade’s lips turning dark blue.

“Manifest,” Rowan growled. “We need to stop her before this gets worse.”

“Take her out!” Louis yelled.

Silas raised his fist. He’d only hit Cade if he swung.

In a flash, Silas and Louis grabbed Cade’s shoulders as he swayed in the lake.

“We got you!” Silas said.

“Who’s Bayrose?” Killian snapped into interrogation mode. “What did you do that made her curse you, Cade? Must’ve been powerful black magic.”

“Some girl from my childhood.” Cade frowned. “I called her little witch, but it’s fuzzy now.” The Fury hissed at that. “She used to follow me around until I stopped her. Got sick of it.” He shook his head in frustration. “I can’t remember much. As my father’s sole heir, I’ve always been surrounded by people, and I don’t remember everyone.”

“Think harder. What triggered her?” I asked. “What was the last interaction between you and her?”

“I don’t—” Cade started, then summoned his wand and flicked the tip, conjuring a memory. He stared into space, then gasped.

“What did you see, Cade?” Rowan asked. “You need to share. Let us help you.”

Cade swallowed. “The day she died, she told me I was her fated mate and I’d only ever marry her. I shut her down hard. When they said she died from poison, I felt bad, and that was it.”

"She thought her death would break you, and she became Fury to finish what she started," I said softly.

None of the heirs were saints. They were predators who didn’t coddle the weak or bow to the strong. Cade wasn’t perfect,but he didn’t deserve this curse—all because he'd rejected the advances of an underage girl.

“A messed-up teen,” Killian said.

“A scorned teen turned Fury,” Louis added. “Classic.”

“Not classic,” Silas countered. “Hell hath no fury like a woman scornedwarns about anadultwoman's vengeance after rejection.Queen Zara coined it during her love triangle in The Mourning Bride."

Of course, the shifter prince would show off the classic literature he'd devoured while courting me.

Louis narrowed his pale blue eyes, but all he said was, "Whatever."

“That’s why Cade never dates.” The shifter prince’s anger burned for his friend. “That little bitch cursed him so he can't touch anyone, making sure his life stays empty. No mate, no freedom—not while she haunts him." He turned to me. "You're good with curses, Barbie. Name your price. I'll pay anything."

Killian growled. "Show some respect. My mate's not for hire." His fingers brushed my cheek. "Can you help, little scorpion? Cade doesn't deserve this hell. He’s my brother, the most decent of?—"

I pressed a finger to his lips. He gasped. I was pleased that tiny touch of mine affected him so much, but I contained my smirk. We had Cade’s curse to deal with.

“Of course I’ll help Cade. Not because he’s the prince of the House of Mages, the house I belong to now. And not because you asked me nicely.” Both Killian and Cade looked at me hopefully. “Removing Cade’s curse is second on my to-do list.”

Cade narrowed his eyes. “What’s first?”

“It’s not exactly classified, and we’ll get there,” I said. “I’d have done it for you if I knew how to exorcize her. Your case is complex. The curse came from black magic—blood magic. Someone powerful helped her. She couldn’t manage it alone.”

“Who helped?” the heirs snarled.

Cade glared. “Name them!”

“How the fuck would I know?” I threw up my hands. “I’m not Sherlock Holmes.”

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