I will never forgive myself for that.
I had hoped that Dax and Killian would pick up on the silent message conveyed through the piercing look I directedat them before they disappeared with Dani. However, my gaze seemed to drift past them, unnoticed and unacknowledged. Dax wanted me dead for what I did and said to our mate… and I deserve to die. And I will.
They will never have to see me again.
I now understand, with a clarity that pierces through the fog of my past, that I have never loved Octavia. The kind of love I feel for Dani transcends anything I ever imagined possible. It’s profound and all-consuming; I can scarcely fathom the depth of my emotions for her had the curse been broken. Yet, there’s a strange solace in knowing it remains unbroken.
I can picture Dani in her future, free and full of life, surrounded by the love of her two mates. They will build a life together, filled with joy and laughter, while I fade into the shadows of their beautiful existence.
I glance over at Octavia. Dani got the necklace. My brave, smart, goddess… However, she ruined my plan to convince Octavia that I love her and take me to the afterlife, leaving the cursed town behind. I know what Dani is going to try and do.
Convincing Dani to drink the potion was a seamless endeavor; she was blissfully unaware as I discreetly had it in my beer. My beer that I made sure she took multiple sips from. The illusion kicked in exactly at the right time, making my demonic rune seemingly fade away from Dani’s hand.
Thanks to Amelia’s ability to create an illusion, we discovered a method to temporarily vanish the rune on Dani’s hand, allowing us to transfer it to Octavia’s skin and making my symbol fully shaded like an exquisite piece of art. Octavia believed that her magic, and my soul wrapped around her neck, finally mated me to her. Something she’s wanted her entire existence.
I hold my gag back at the thought.
The potion sat in a capsule, under my tongue, a tasteless elixir with the power of deception. As I leaned in and pressedmy lips against Octavia’s, I quickly swallowed my vomit and bit into the capsule and slid my tongue into her mouth. At that moment, I discreetly delivered the elixir, granting the illusion of bearing my mark.
Once Octavia finds out that my mark is fake, shit is going to go down. Amelia and I are unsure how long the spell will be effective. My only objective is to lead Octavia into the afterlife, where she will be ensnared, all thanks to Amelia’s cunning magic.
The enchantment on her skin serves a dual purpose. It not only mimics my demonic rune with exquisite precision but also acts as a binding force, ensuring Octavia remains trapped in the afterlife, so I have to get her there quickly before Amelia’s magic fades.
With every moment that passes, the tension mounts, and the stakes grow ever higher.
I will never forget the haunting expression on Dani’s face the moment my symbol faded from her hand—it was as if time had frozen, and I was on the brink of collapse. The weight of regret hung heavy, and the turmoil within me surged. I yearned to reach out, to wrap my arms around her, to whisper reassurances that this was all an illusion, that my mark remains on her skin because she is my mate. The words “I’m not your mate” felt like daggers piercing my heart, each syllable a crushing blow that reverberated in my chest. I could feel her anguish radiating through the space between us, a tangible force that nearly shattered my willpower into a million irretrievable pieces.
“Well, that was eventful,” Octavia’s voice brings me back to reality.
I get up from the floor and push my hair back.
“Ahem,” Octavia clears her throat.
Oh, right.I give her a tasteless smile and extend my hand to help her off the ground.
She places her hands on my chest, and I want to burn every part of my flesh she touches.
“Well, what are you waiting for? Wrap me up in your shadows, and let’s go kill them all!” She throws her head back, laughing.
I contemplate ripping her throat out with my teeth…
“What’s the rush?” I ask her. “Why don’t we just leave all of this behind?”
“Are you serious right now, Adonis? I’ve been gone for far too long, and now I’m back. I want my magic. I want my necklace. And I want Dani dead! I want to burn this fucking town to the ground!” She carefully untangles her long, dark hair, each silky strand gliding through her fingers like shadows dancing in the fading light.
“Then, once I have all my things, we can finally embark on our journey to the afterlife, once and for all,” she declares, her voice laced with an eerie calmness.
As she runs her hand through my hair, the coolness of her touch sends a shiver down my spine, and I fight back the bile rising in my throat, swallowing hard before she can catch a glimpse of my revulsion.
I ball my hands into tight fists, the muscles in my arms tensing as I take a deep breath. I can feel the heat rising in my chest, a wildfire of emotion threatening to burst forth. With each inhale, I focus on finding my center, forcing my thoughts to settle before I act impulsively and make a reckless choice.
Octavia walks out the front door.
Flames crackle and dance in vivid hues of orange and yellow as fire begins to consume Elaine’s house, sending tendrils of smoke spiraling into the dark sky. I take one more look at Elaine’s lifeless body and step next to Octavia.
She utters the ancient tongue, weaving incantations that stir the thick, swirling fog around her. Octavia raises her arms toward the sky, and in a sudden flash, lightning splits the sky, crackling in eager response to her powerful magic, causing me to flinch involuntarily.
From the depths of the mist, dark shapes coalesce into shadowmires, their menacing silhouettes gliding through the haze. Octavia beckons them forth, her voice resonating with authority as she orders them to revel in their ghastly feast.
