A shudder ripples through my body, and Jude pulls a blanket over me, his wing curling protectively around my shoulders.
No one speaks.
The fire crackles softly in the hearth, and it’s not long before I finally drift off, the calming presence of my silent sentries making me feel safe, the steady beat of Jude’s heart against my cheek lulling me into a fuzzy half-sleep.
But even there, dreams don’t find me. My mind is still turning over every leaf, still rearranging all the puzzle pieces to see ifthistime, with just the right twist and turn, I can make it fit.
Dark curses.
Tethered.
Immortal bloodlines.
Broken by one whose love is true.
Tethered to an immortal bloodline.
Unbreakable.
Tether.
Cursed.
Immortal blood.
Tether…
Wait… tether?
My eyes fly open, and I gasp as the realization smashes into me.
“Holy shit, that’s it!” I leap from Jude’s embrace, the blanket falling to the floor, adrenaline making my heart dance behind my ribcage. “Guys, that’s it! It’s the tether! The tether is the key!”
They’re all staring at me with wide, confused eyes.
“Bad dream, darling?” Jude reaches for me, trying to pull me back into his lap. “You know I’d be more than happy to help you relax again.”
“I’m not dreaming. I’m wide awake. I’m so wide awake I’m buzzing.” A laugh bursts out of me, making me bounce on my toes. “The curse. I think I know how to obliterate that fucking curse!”
“What?” Jude’s on his feet now too, Rook and Auggie following suit.
“Tell us,” Rook says eagerly, pushing his glasses up his nose.
Auggie watches me expectantly. Even Draegan, as still as a statue on one of the chairs, allows an uncharacteristic flicker of hope to shine in his eyes.
It’s only there for a second, but I saw it.
And I can’twaitto put it back there. Permanently.
Grabbing Jude’s hands, I say, “We’ve been looking at it all wrong. Verrick said the curse tether can’t be broken while it’s tied to our bloodline—not unless our bloodline is broken first. But he also said I’m immortal like him, which means I won’t die of natural causes and our bloodline will remain—”
“You won’t die atall,” Jude says, tightening his grip on my hands, “because we’re not going to let anyone fucking near you again, and—”
“Jude, listen to me. You can’t make that promise anymore. I know you want to, but you just can’t. We all know the curse is going to claim your souls before I die. You can feel it, can’t you?”
“But you helped us in Wintermoon,” Auggie says. “You reversed—”
“I was able to reverse the spell that turned you into stone, but that was based on a singular action that Verrick took in my presence. The curse is different. It’s demonic magic, tethered to my bloodline, cast before I was even born. I have no power to reverse it the way I did Verrick’s attack.”
