Page 72 of Cursed

“You look like shit,” I whispered.

I was pale, with dark hollows under my eyes.

I had pulled my hair into a knot on top of my head, and I desperately needed a shower—

There was a smear of blood on my cheek.

But there was something else there—something I couldn’t seem to push away.

They all wanted to possess me.

I hated them for what they had done to me.

Bastards and betrayers.

All of them.

Yet, as revulsion and anger twisted in my chest, I recognized the truth—this wasn’t about them.

This was about me… and about reclaiming the pieces of my past that had been stolen away.

I stoodbefore my sprawling closet and glared at its contents.

“Focus,” I whispered, and pushed aside a low cut emerald gown that would have caught Valen’s eye but wouldn’t serve my purpose. My fingers grazed over the soft material of a black velvet dress that had been embroidered with tiny constellations picked out in metallic silver thread and tiny chips of sparkling stones.

The dress was short, and its deep-V neckline exposed my shoulders and the tops of my breasts—I would need the distraction from the dagger I intended to strap to my thigh.

A smile tugged at my lips as I pulled it from the rack; it was gorgeous, and just a little immodest.

Just enough to pique Valen’s interest.

As I slipped it on and smoothed the rich velvet over my curves, I relished the comforting weight of the blackened silver dagger strapped firmly to my thigh.

I couldn’t afford hesitation; too much was at stake.

Urgency clawed at my insides— If Valen suspected anything, he would ruin me.

He would tell his brothers. Or Lucian. Or… he would kill me.

I couldn’t fail.

If I could do this—just once—I would be strong enough to take Bastian next.

And then Titus.

Valen was the one I felt closest to. He had wanted to understand what was happening to me—

What if hehadcared?

He’d also lied.

He said he wanted to protect me—but if that were true, he would have stopped his brothers.

I pulled my hair into a tight ponytail and swept some dark eyeshadow over my lids before using blush to hide the paleness of my cheeks.

Would he notice—

A wry smile twisted my lips.

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