“Will Lumi survive if we try to break the curse tonight? Does she have to shift into her wolf form to survive the marking ceremony?”
Her lips curl in a vicious smile. “A snow wolf will be marked by the moonlight. Once marked, the curse can be broken. But the marking will awaken a great darkness that will threaten you both.”
“How do I prevent her from dying? Does she need to shift into her wolf form? The Moonfire coven’s seer said she needed to shift into her wolf form.”
“That’s another question.”
I growl. “It’s a follow-up to your vague prophecy. Don’t you want the curse broken? Lumi is the only one who can break the curse. You just said so yourself—she’s the snow wolf. Help us break the curse.”
She looks up at me slyly. “Who said I wanted to break the curse?”
“All creatures want to break the curse.”
She shakes her head solemnly. “The Moonfire seer said, if she doesn’t learn to shift, she’ll die. Lumi has learned to shift. The Moonfire seer never said that she had to shift during the marking ceremony to survive.
“But someone will die tonight. There is always a great price to pay when magic is involved, and breaking the curse will involve tremendous magic.”
“Who? Will Lumi die?”
“Shifting could keep her alive, but so could staying in her human form.”
“So she’ll live?”
“As long as you don’t fall in love with her, then yes, she’ll live.”
Fuck, I can do that.My heart pounds in my chest, calling me a liar.
“You said once marked, the curse can be broken.Can—does that mean it will be? What doescanmean?”
“I can’t answer that.”
I grind my teeth together, and my claws spring from my fingertips as I stand, towering over her.
“It’s not because I refuse to give you an answer but because I can’t see anything beyond the marking ceremony. The snow wolf’s future is blurred.”
I frown, retracting my claws. “Then how do you know that she’ll break the curse?”
“I don’t. I just know she has the ability to.”
“Why? Why her?”
“Now, that’s a good question, isn’t it?” She rises from behind the desk.
“But not one you’re going to answer,” I snap.
“It’s not a question you need the answer to yet.”
“You’re wrong. We need all the answers when it comes to breaking the curse. There are too many lives at stake. Try—try again to see more.”
Thalia shakes her head. “I’m cursed, the same as you. The curse prevents me from seeing more of the prophecy. I’m sorry.”
“So am I.” I turn and walk out the door without a goodbye or a thank you. Her answers weren’t nearly enough, but I did get the one answer to the question I care most about. Lumi will live if we try to complete the marking ceremony tonight as long as I don’t fall in love with her.
“You love her,” Rowena says.
I freeze, not realizing that Rowena had been standing outside my office listening in.
“Don’t—don’t do this,” I say, closing my eyes tightly. My heart is beating out of my chest, trying to find the strength to deny my feelings once again.
