Page 124 of Cursed

The grimoire’s whispers intensified, a swirling vortex of arcane words and chilling premonitions in my mind. I shut my eyes tight, determined to reclaim my thoughts.

I had to harness this power—not just for myself, but to dismantle Lucian’s grip on my life.

Titus, Valen, and Bastian— what about them?

As much as I had tried to forget, I couldn’t deny that each brother held a piece of my heart—guilt-ridden pieces I could use as leverage. The spell I had invoked bound me to them... and their power mingled with mine.

But I needed to keep them at arm’s length while drawing them closer.

Could I really do it? Could I convince them to betray their own father formysake?

A shiver ran down my spine as I imagined wielding the power of the grimoire against Lucian—the way its dark magic would course through me and fill me with purpose and cruel power.

What if they tried to stop me?

“But what if they helped?” the grimoire whispered.

Lucian was the true enemy, a tyrant ruling with an iron fist.

My father had tried it—he had dared to stand against Lucian.

But he had failed.

What if I could do it?

What ifIcould become the weapon that shattered his dominion?

“Lucian will fall,” I whispered, “andIwill be the one to take him down.”

It was a new thought—but a sudden one.

Escape was my goal. But if I escaped without removing Lucian from his position of power, there was no doubt in my mind that he would come after me. Nowhere would be safe. And when he caught me, and he would, I would be the newest addition to the horrifying portrait of tortured souls on the wall of his study.

I swallowed hard as the grimoire conjured terrifying images in my mind of the torture I would be subjected to if I failed.

The triumphant expression on Lucian’s sharply angled face.

The utter glee in his pale, dead eyes.

I couldn’t fail.

My life depended on it.

I had agreedto let them help me.

Of course I did.

But I didn’t trust them.

Not for a second.

I sat on the edge of my bed, the grimoire at my side. Waiting.

The grimoire’s whispers swirled around me, but for the first time I couldn’t determine if its words were encouraging, or warning me to stop…

Was I making the right decision?

A crossroads.

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