The start of this curse isn’t that important in my eyes—only the end.
“Well, I appreciate your help, Julian. And I’m sorry you’ve been roped into all of this,” Father says, giving Julian a soft smile.
“Sweetheart, you’re very brave. Truly. I’ll forever be grateful for how you stuck up for our boy,” Mother adds. She’s been relatively quiet until now.
“It was nothing. It was my responsibility,” Julian responds, tone level and calm.
“No,” Jeremy suddenly interjects. “It wasnotyour responsibility. Julian,youare not cursed, and you are not a part of this family. Why would you endanger yourself like that?”
He sounds hurt, borderline betrayed, and so scared that my heart aches for him. At the end of the day, he’s not wrong.
But Julian’s face twists into a glare, his eye narrowing in on his father. “I willnotsit by while he is harassed, Dad. You raised me to be kind and protective, so why are you so surprised? If I’m faced with the choice again, I’ll stand between Atlas and that thing without hesitation.”
The finality in his tone has me outright shivering.
A small part of me tingles with the hope that his drive to protect me comes from more than just his upbringing. It could, right? After all of this, could he possibly like me as much as I…
I…
“Then we are leaving,” Jeremy demands. “If you cannot make a rational decision where Young Master Atlas is concerned, then there is no other option than to separate you from him.”
“What?!”Julian gasps. “Fuck no! You’re nuts, Dad. I’m not going anywhere, and you can’t make me. I’m grown.”
He takes a step backward, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling my back to his chest. Wide-eyed, I look around the room to see all of the shocked expressions of my family.
“I won’t leave him,” Julian continues. “You’ll have to drag me out of here kicking and screaming. Iwill notleave.”
“Julian,” my father starts, raising his hands as if to calm a wild animal. “Your father is right. This is a family matter, andyour leaving is probably for the best. The demon doesn’t want you here, and it will only become more violent toward everyone involved with you around.”
“No,” Julian whispers, his fingers digging into my hip. “No way.”
“Julian,” Father repeats. “You’re fired.”
“No!” This time, he actuallyyellsthe word, and Atticus takes a step toward us, only for our mother to grab his arm and stop him. He’s glaring.
“Let. Him. Go,” Atticus demands.
My eyes connect with my father’s. He gives me a pleading look, one that reads,“Talk to him, son. Tell him to go,”and Ihearmy heart shatter.
They’re going to makemedo it? Cruel. So insanely cruel.
But they aren’t wrong. If and when the incubus returns, it will do much worse to Julian, and I can’t just never sleep again. I have to get him out of this estate. For his own safety.
Still locked in his tight grip, I turn, pressing my chest to Julian’s as I watch him glare at my father.
“Julie?” I whisper, but he doesn’t look down, doesn’t rip his gaze from those who are trying to take me from him. “Julie,” I repeat.
Finally, his eyes slowly dip to mine, and his brow furrows as he waits for my next word.
“You have to go,” I tell him.
“What?” he whispers, his eyes widening as tears gather. “But… but you said you weremine. You said I could protect you.”
“I know,” I placate. “But it’s different now. You don’t work here anymore, and I can’t have you getting hurt anymore. You have to leave.”
I pet his cheek affectionately, feeling his arms falling loose around me.
“No,” he says, soft and sad as he shakes his head. “No. You don’t really want that. Tell me you don’t really want that.” Julian raises his palm to brush the curls from my forehead. “Little bunny… don’t make me leave you.”
