Chapter 26 The Internal Curse
Amara’s POV
My veins were howling with anguish as I woke up. It twisted around my heart and licked at my bones, feeling like fire. My eyelids sprang open and I let out a strangled cry.
Mira was putting a cold cloth on my head while she leaned over me. I tried to concentrate by blinking at her.
"Easy," she said. "You gave us quite a scare."
I flinched. My entire body trembled. "What... what happened?"
Kian's worried, piercing voice came from my left. "With your strength, you almost destroyed the forest. You were yelling.
My heart fell. I tried to sit up, but I was in excruciating pain. I let out a cry and gripped my wrist, where the mark was pulsing fiercely.
On the other side, kneeling, Rowan came into view. His eyes were darkened by shame and terror, and his face was pallid. "Amara. I'm present. Here we are. You're secure.
I gave a headshake. "No. I'm not secure. Nobody is.
Mira's expression darkened. Even the slightest touch she used to the mark on my wrist caused me to hiss in agony.
"It’s worse than I thought," she said. "She’s planted a curse seed in you."
My blood became icy.
"A what?" With his hands clenched, Kian stepped closer and demanded.
Mira didn't raise her look. Whispering spells to herself, she continued to examine my wrist. "A seed of curse. Ancient black magic is what it is. It develops and feeds on the victim's strength. It will eventually either kill her or enslave her to the Hollow Witch.
I was having trouble breathing.
Rowan's voice was broken. "No. No, it must be possible to halt it. To take it out."
Mira shut her eyes. "Yes, there is. However, it's risky. It will take a blood ritual to remove. A sacrifice. Furthermore, there is no assurance that she will live even after that.
Kian struck the wall with his fist. "No. No. That is not what we are doing. There must be an alternative.
I tried to talk, but all I could do was whine. Like claws ripping me apart from the inside out, the anguish surged up again, intense and sharp.
Leaning in, Rowan took hold of my trembling hand. "I'll carry it out. I'll assist with the ceremony. I'll be the one to make whatever necessary sacrifices."
Kian immediately turned against him. "You have no right to volunteer for this. You are no longer in charge of her."
Rowan's look grew strained. "She is my partner and always will be. I refuse to let her perish.
"She’s also my mate," Kian snarled. "And I won’t stand here and watch you get her killed with your reckless guilt."
I attempted to say, "Stop it," but my voice broke.
Mira spoke louder than they could hear. "Enough! You're frightening her."
Despite glaring at one another, they both fell silent.
With trepidation, I inhaled. I beg you not to fight. Please.
However, what I said was irrelevant.
Rowan had a low, lethal voice. I'll stop at nothing to help her. Anything.
Kian's jaw clenched. "Then move aside from me. Because of your misdeeds, I will not allow you to kill her."
Another wave of pain ripped through me, causing my entire body to convulse. I curled in on myself and screamed. Light burst from my mark. Something moved within me—hungry, dark, and alive.
Mira chanted more quickly as she put her hands on my shoulders. "Amara, hold on. "Fight!"
Tears were flowing down my face as I gasped. "It hurts—it hurts so much!"
With anxious eyes, Rowan took hold of my other hand. "Observe me! Remain with me! Keep her from winning.
Kian grabbed my arm and fell to his knees on my opposite side. "Amara, I'm here. I will not let you leave. You dare not abandon me.
As the agony became intolerable, their voices became hazy. Black tendrils of magic curled out of my mark and slithered across my skin as the curse brightened.
I heard her. "The Hollow Witch"
I'm laughing.
Priestess, give in. Come on in. Give yourself to me.
I yelled, "No!"
Rowan and Kian were blasted backwards by the explosion of light from my wrist. The space trembled. Candles went out. Mira cried out in agony as she collapsed.
The darkness closed up around me. I was unable to see. Unable to breathe.
Amara, you are mine.
"NO!" I let out a shout.
Everything turned dark.
Rowan and Kian were both lying on the ground with blood dripping from their skulls as my vision briefly returned. Mira was crying and groping for me while muttering fervent prayers.
And the following words were inscribed in my blood on the wall behind them:
I own your soul.
I cried one more time before the darkness engulfed me.