ANMELDENMaria's POVThe garden was quieter than usual after class.Most of the students had already gone home, leaving only the distant sounds of footsteps and the occasional voice drifting from the academy buildings.I found Damien sitting on the lowest wooden bench beneath the old tree.When he noticed me, he straightened."You're here."I nodded."You told me to come."A small smile crossed his face."I did."I approached slowly.He moved slightly to one side, leaving plenty of room.I sat down at the opposite end of the bench.There was a wide gap between us.I stared at my sneakers.My hands were wrapped tightly around my notebook.For several seconds, neither of us spoke.Then Damien said quietly,"You look terrified."I immediately looked up."I'm not."He raised an eyebrow.I sighed."Okay. Maybe a little.""A little?"I looked away."Fine. A lot."He laughed softly."That's better."I frowned."What?""Honesty."He rested his arms against the back of the bench."If we're going to wor
Maria's POV The water was still running when Catherine left. I stared at the basin for several seconds before lowering my eyes. My hands were beginning to ache. I'd been washing dishes for so long that my fingers had turned pale from the water. There were still several plates waiting beside me. Then there was the laundry. The upstairs rooms. The dining room. And whatever else Catherine decided needed to be done before the evening. I took a slow breath. Don't complain. That was what I'd learned to do. Keep working. Keep quiet. Don't give anyone another reason to be angry. I took a slow breath. Don't complain. That was what I'd learned to do. Keep working. Keep quiet. Don't give anyone another reason to be angry. I reached for the next plate. The sound of running water filled the room. __________________________________ For some reason, I couldn't stop thinking about what Catherine had said. Damien had come looking for me. At least..
Catherine's POVI took a deep breath and got ready.I walked toward the sitting room slowly.The sound of water running followed me from the servants' corridor.Maria was still working.I could hear the occasional clink of dishes and the soft movement of someone trying not to make noise.For some reason, that sound irritated me.She was always so quiet.Always trying to disappear.And yet somehow...she was becoming impossible to ignore.When I entered the sitting room, Mother was already waiting.Father sat across from her, one hand resting against the arm of his chair.Mother looked up."There you are."I closed the door behind me."You wanted to see me?""Yes."Her eyes moved over me."Sit."I took the chair beside her.Father remained silent for a moment.Then he spoke."Damien has returned.""I know.""And he came here looking for Maria."I clenched my jaw."Yes."Mother exchanged a glance with Father."What did you tell him?""That she wasn't here."Father nodded approvingly."G
Catherine's POV I watched Damien disappear through the gates. I couldn't move. Not immediately. I simply stood there, staring after him as his carriage disappeared down the road. He had come back. Alive. After everything that had happened at Black Ridge... He had come back. And the first thing he'd done was ask for Maria. Not Father. Not me. Not even Draven. Maria. My hands curled into fists. I could still hear his voice in my head. "I'm here because I wanted to speak to Maria." Why? Why was it always her? She had done nothing to deserve this. Nothing to deserve Damien's attention. Nothing to deserve the concern of someone as important as him. And yet somehow... she kept getting it. I turned toward Father. He was still standing near the doorway, watching the road. "He's gone." Father didn't answer. I looked at him. "Did you see the way he spoke about her?" His jaw tightened. "I heard him." "He defended her." "I know." "Even after everything." Father
I remained outside the fortress for several minutes. The letter was still in my hand. My mother's handwriting. The symbol. The witch. The curse. Too many questions. But for the first time, I realized something. I didn't need every answer tonight. Whatever my father had done, whatever the witch wanted, and whatever secret my mother had been trying to lead me toward... I would uncover it. Eventually. But I couldn't allow it to consume me. I had spent enough of my life carrying responsibilities that weren't mine. I wasn't going to let my father's choices become another chain around my neck. I folded the letter carefully and placed it inside my coat. Then I turned toward the fortress. I had one more thing to do. Find the witch. Not to demand answers. Not to fight her. To ask one question. I entered the forest alone. The path was almost impossible to see beneath the trees, but somehow my feet remembered where she'd taken me. After several min
DAMIEN'S POV I didn't leave Black Ridge. Not yet. I stood outside the stone chamber where the witch had disappeared, staring into the forest. The truth she'd given me refused to settle. My father had made a bargain. He had placed a curse on his own firstborn rather than face the consequences of his own actions. And now... I was the one carrying it. I clenched my jaw. For years, I'd believed my inability to find my mate was simply fate. A cruel part of destiny. Something I had to accept. Now I knew better. It had never been fate. It had been a choice. His choice. I turned toward the fortress. Draven had already gone home. Which meant Father was probably preparing his victory speech. I almost laughed. Let him. For now. I had no intention of returning home only to walk straight into whatever trap they had prepared for me. I needed answers first. And there was one person who might have them. The witch. I turned back toward the forest. "You said the curse could







