Page 48 of Awakened Light

Catrain pulled out of my arms and spun around to face me. “I can do that, you know.”

My eyes widened. “You can lift the curse? Are you serious?”

“Well, not quite. I don’t have my mother’s powers yet. If I did, I could lift your curse. But for now, I can enchant your ring to combat the sunlight curse.”

She pointed to the family heirloom I’d worn for six hundred years. It was a pewter band engraved with my clan symbols surrounding a polished rock sitting prominently in the center. It had been my father’s and passed down through the generations. When he died during our transition, it became mine. I’d worn it every day since.

“My magic isn’t strong enough to make it permanent, but I could give you roughly a week of protection from a curse... including the one that keeps you out of the sun.”

My heart sped up in my chest. “Are you serious? You can make me sun-proof for a week?”

She smiled and nodded. “Yes. And when I take over for my mother, I can remove the curse on you and your family for good. Make you all able to live forever in the sun. It’s the least I can do after what happened to your clan.”

My mouth fell open as I tried to process the information she’d just given me. Having the curse removed was a dream for all of us, but then I realized the price it would come with.

“But that means you’re going back,” I said with a swallow.

Catrain pursed her lips into a thin line as she sighed. “I have to.”

It wasn’t surprising news, but it gutted me none-the-less. Instead of letting my anger and sadness overwhelm me again, I just nodded.

Her small hand wrapped around mine. “This isn’t what I want, I hope you know that. But it’s what I have to do. You would sacrifice for your family, wouldn’t you?”

I lifted my eyebrows as I sighed. “I’d give anything for them. My happiness, my life... anything.”

“Then you understand. It’s the same for me. But I want you to know that when I take my mother’s place, I’ll remove the curse on your family. You suffered greatly with what your clan endured, and it wasn’t fair to curse you for not holding up your end of the bargain. But only your family... I wouldn’t dare lift it on all vampires after what I saw in the city.”

I was as elated to hear I’d be able to walk in the sun as I was devastated that it meant it was because Catrain had to return to her people. But instead of pressuring her and begging like I wanted to, I just smiled.

“It would be an incredible gift, Cat. Thank you.”

“For now, give me your ring.” She opened her hand.

I slid it off my finger and placed it in her palm. She encased it in her fist and closed her eyes, then began chanting. When she finished, she slowly peeled open her fingers, and the gray stone had turned a deep shade of blue.

“When the color wears off, so will the spell that protects you.”

“So, you’re saying as long as this ring is blue and I’m wearing it, I can be in the sun?”

She nodded.

Laughing, I arched a brow. “You sure? Because if you’re wrong, I’ll light up like a candle.”

She smiled. “I’m sure. Just don’t go in the sun if the color fades.”

“And I get about a week?”

She nodded again.

“Then stay.” I reached out and took her hands in mine. “Stay for one week. We’ll see the world in the light and experience it together. When the color starts to fade, I’ll bring you back and deliver you to your island as promised.”

She chewed on her lip as she looked everywhere but my eyes.

“One week, Cat. You owe it to yourself to experience the world with me just a little.”

Her gaze finally lifted to meet mine. “Okay,” she said quietly.

My eyebrows shot to my hairline. “Okay? Seriously? You’ll stay?”