A WARNING IGNORED
Selene's emerald eyes glimmered as she stepped closer to Amara, the weight of her words settling like a shroud over the room. "Breaking the curse isn't simple. It requires sacrifice—something neither of you may be willing to give."
"What kind of sacrifice?" Amara's voice wavered, her hands gripping the edge of the table.
Selene hesitated, her gaze flickering to Lysander. "The bond between you must be severed completely. That means no connection—emotional or otherwise. The mark will fade only when the bond dies."
The room fell silent. Amara's heart sank as she processed the witch's words. She glanced at Lysander, whose jaw was set in a grim line.
"And if we don't?" Amara asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Selene leaned in, her voice dropping to a dangerous tone. "If you don't, the mark will consume you. The more you feel, the stronger the bond grows. And when the shadows finally come for you…" She gestured toward the flickering flames in the hearth. "They'll burn you from the inside out, until there's nothing left but ash."
Lysander stepped forward, his tone sharp. "Enough. We didn't come here for riddles, Selene. Tell us what we need to do to fight the shadows now."
Selene sighed, stepping back and crossing her arms. "You can delay the curse, for a time. Strengthen the wards around her, keep her emotions in check. But the more you deny the bond, the harder it will fight back. You've already felt it, haven't you?" Her eyes settled on Amara knowingly.
Amara looked away, the memory of her uncontrollable surge of power earlier flashing in her mind.
"I won't lose control," she said firmly, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her fear.
Selene's laughter was bitter. "You say that now, but the mark is already feeding on your emotions. Desire, anger, fear—it will twist them, make them stronger, until they overpower you. And when that happens…" She looked at Lysander, her expression hard. "Not even he will be able to save you."
The tension in the room was suffocating. Amara stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the wooden floor. "I don't believe that," she said, her voice shaking but determined. "There has to be another way."
Selene's expression softened, a flicker of pity in her eyes. "You don't understand what you're up against, child. This isn't a fairy tale with a happy ending. The curse has claimed countless lives. What makes you think you're any different?"
"Because I have to be," Amara said, her voice rising. "I'm not giving up. Not on myself, and not on him." She turned to Lysander, her gaze unwavering. "We'll figure this out. Together."
Lysander's expression was unreadable, but the flicker of something—hope?—crossed his features before he buried it beneath his usual stoicism.
Selene shook her head, exasperated. "You're fools, both of you." She stepped closer, her voice a low warning. "Don't say I didn't warn you when the shadows come for you again. And next time, you may not survive."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and disappeared into the back of the cottage, leaving them alone with the weight of her words.
As they stepped out into the cool night air, Amara exhaled deeply, the tension in her chest refusing to ease. The forest was quiet, the earlier threat of Azriel lingering in her mind.
"You shouldn't have defied her," Lysander said finally, his voice low and measured.
"She doesn't know everything," Amara shot back. "If there's even a chance we can beat this, then I'm going to take it. I'm not giving up just because she says it's hopeless."
Lysander stopped walking, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "This isn't about hope, Amara. This is about survival. You're playing with forces you don't understand."
"And neither do you," she said softly, stepping closer. "But you're still here. You're still trying to help me, even when you don't have to."
He didn't respond, but the tension between them was palpable. Amara reached out, her fingers brushing against his arm.
"I'm not afraid of this bond, Lysander," she whispered. "And you shouldn't be either."
For a moment, he seemed to waver, his usual resolve faltering. But then he pulled away, his expression hardening. "You should be afraid. Because if Selene's right, the more you hold onto this, the more dangerous it becomes—for both of us."
Before Amara could respond, he turned and continued walking, leaving her to follow in silence.
As they disappeared into the forest, a pair of amber eyes watched from the shadows, a cruel smile curling on Azriel's lips.