James stirred slightly in his sleep, the tension in his features easing, but his brow was still furrowed as if his dreams were troubled. I sat beside him, my fingers brushing his hand. It was hard to believe everything we had been through — the curse, the darkness, Emily's relentless pursuit. And now, my mother's words from my dream lingered in my mind. **James is your fated mate. You belong together.**
The weight of that truth had settled deep in my chest, making it hard to breathe. I'd tried so hard to convince myself otherwise, to let go of the idea that fate could dictate who I should love. For a time, I thought Vincent was my future, but no matter how hard I tried to move forward, I couldn't shake my bond with James. And now that I knew the curse was tied to that bond — that Emily sought to break it — it all made sense. This was bigger than either of us.
