Page 64 of Cursed

“You’re not alone here,” I urged, and leaned closer. I searched her face for some sign of trust, some flicker of the bond we had shared before— Before we’d destroyed it.

“Valen…”

Her voice twisted something inside of me.

“Get out,” she hissed.

Her trembling intensified; the haunted look in her eyes deepened, and I swore I could see fragments of shattered glass swirling within them. The vision that tormented her, whatever it was, held her captive, and I was powerless to break the spell.

“Stop!” she cried, squeezing her eyes shut as if to block me out completely. “You don’t understand! I can’t—”

“Then help me understand,” I countered. “I’m not going to hurt you—”

“Why do you care?” she shot back. “You’re just like your brothers. You might think you’re different, but you’re not— You’re all the same.”

“Don’t you dare say that,” I growled.

“Or what?” she snapped. “What will you do? Use your magic against me?”

She wiggled her fingers mockingly at me, and I backed away.

“No,” I snarled. “I’mnotlike them.”

She glared back at me.

“I’m nothing like my brothers,” I repeated. “I’ve done everything in my power to protect you.”

Her laugh was sharp.

“Protect me? Is that what you were doing when you dragged me to Lucian’s study that night?”

There was nothing I could say that would take that away.

She was right.

“Get thefuckaway from me,” she said through gritted teeth.

The fragile young woman I’d plucked from the floor was gone and a vengeful spirit had taken her place.

Rage had darkened her eyes, and she moved toward me like a serpent, seething with hate.

“Avril—”

“Leave,” she growled, and the soft push of her magic pressed against my chest. It was weak, as it always was, but there was something else, too...

Impossible.

With a frustrated grunt, I turned and walked away. She didn’t call me back, and as I stepped out into the coolness of the hallway, the door slammed shut behind me and the latch clicked into place.

What had she seen?

And what had caused the change that had descended over her—

The grimoire—it was the only answer.

It had haunted my dreams when I’d first attempted to gain control over it. Titus had mocked me ceaselessly for my weakness, and it had taken me longer to master it than Bastian.

The grimoire was dangerous, and Avril wasn’t strong enough to fight against its power.

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