Page 39 of Black Hearted (Cursed Fae #4)

Zane

My heart ached as I heard Lorelei’s screams. The way she yelled my name, filled with so much anguish, was killing me. But I had to do this. I couldn’t let her sacrifice herself. I wasn’t capable of sitting back and watching her die.

As I crested the hill leading to the Tree of Transformation, I spotted it—a massive green tree nestled at the bottom of a wide ravine. For a moment, I paused in awe, realizing I was looking at the curse’s birthplace.

A bird’s piercing screech shattered my thoughts.

I glanced up just in time to see a raven, the size of a large house cat, dive-bombing straight for my face. Throwing up an arm to shield myself, I batted the bird away. But it quickly changed course, circling back to attack me again.

I fought off the creature, but the sound of flapping wings drew my attention over my shoulder. My stomach dropped as I saw over two dozen ravens descending upon me, their caws and croaks creating a deafening roar.

Where in the fates did they come from?

The swarm enveloped me. The birds dove at me in groups of three to five at a time, their sharp talons raking across my skin, their beaks pecking relentlessly.

I punched, swung, and blocked, but their sheer numbers overwhelmed me.

Pain seared through my arms and face as their attacks landed, scoring my flesh.

This forsaken land was trying to kill me before I reached the cursed tree. But I wasn’t about to let that happen.

Summoning my power, I thrust out my hand, releasing a bolt of lightning that struck a raven squarely in the chest. Its body seized mid-air and fell lifelessly to the ground at my feet.

The remaining birds, startled by the sudden storm of magic, scattered, fleeing into the skies.

Panting, I stared at the dead bird, frowning. The Wise Ones’ warning replayed in my mind: Come for the curse and the curse will come for you.

The attack made no sense, not without the curse’s influence. These birds hadn’t come out of nowhere—they were sent.

“Sorry, little guy,” I murmured, feeling slightly foolish for apologizing to a dead animal. But there was no time to dwell on it.

Hearing Lorelei’s grief-stricken screams in the distance and seeing the lifeless bird at my feet only fueled my resolve. I needed to end this curse once and for all. No one—not Lorelei, not anyone—should have to suffer under its malevolent shadow any longer.

Without hesitation, I sprinted down the hill toward the Tree of Transformation. My gaze flicked briefly to the black droplets of blood dotting my arms where the birds had scratched me. Black blood.

In this land, it was seen as a mark of evil, a sign of darkness. But in Ethereum, black blood was the mark of power, of royalty—a birthright that carried both privilege and duty.

As I ran, I couldn’t help but wonder if once this curse was destroyed, the seelie here in Faerie could finally shed their centuries of prejudice. Could they end their hatred toward black bleeders? Toward the unseelie?

Would this curse’s end be enough to change everything?

If I had a dying wish, it would be that breaking this curse and healing our two worlds might somehow unite everyone as equals. That we could all learn to accept one another despite our differences.

And that Lorelei would be happy.

As I drew closer to the tree in the distance, the unruly, weed-filled ground gave way to a well-manicured field of grass bordered by lavender flowers. The moment my boots touched the grass, an immense wave of power washed over me, crackling through my veins and setting my teeth on edge.

I stared ahead at the towering tree, which had to soar at least a hundred feet into the air, and marveled at its beauty.

Its limbs, heavy with bright green leaves and delicate white flowers, twisted and turned as they stretched out toward the heavens.

From where I stood, the light brown bark appeared smooth and flawless, radiating a subtle, ethereal glow.

Lorelei’s words echoed in my mind: Over the course of a single day, it cycles through all four seasons. Judging by the vibrancy of the blooms, it seemed to be in spring at this moment.

The thought made my heart ache all over again.

Lorelei should be here to witness this with me.

The way the branches fanned out into delicate white buds, each glowing softly as if infused with magic.

Sunlight kissed the petals, making them glitter like stardust. The floral scent filled the air, sweet and all-encompassing, leaving me momentarily breathless.

But I couldn’t allow myself to linger in awe. That’s not what I was here for. I was here to follow the Wise Ones’ instructions, to end this curse, and to save both our worlds.

Cautiously, I glanced around, expecting another attack from the cursed land. But nothing came. No ravens, no vines, no burning rain. The silence felt almost sacred as I closed the distance to the tree.

The base of the tree was massive, its trunk wider than I was tall. At its center, right at eye level, was a divot shaped perfectly to fit the Shadow Heart. To think this tree had stood here for thousands of years, waiting for someone to bring the right pieces to end the curse, made my blood boil.

How many of my ancestors had been slaughtered at the hands of a Faerie princess? How many lives were lost when the solution had been sitting here all along? The thought filled me with anger.

But deep down, I knew the truth. It wasn’t about just finding the pieces or coming to the tree.

It wasn’t the right time until now. It took Dawn falling in love with Zander to shift the tides of this centuries-old war.

It took Aribella and Stryker retrieving the Shadow Heart and Adrien and Isolde unraveling its secrets.

For reasons beyond my understanding, it had to be us—my brothers and our mates—to finally break this curse that had tormented our worlds for millennia. I should feel honored to be part of this legacy, but instead, all I felt was fury.

Fury that I would never see Nellie again. Fury that I would never kiss Lorelei’s sweet lips again. Fury at the cruel fate that had brought us together only to tear us apart.

With a shuddering breath, I pulled the note from my pocket and scanned the instructions once more.

When you arrive, place the pieces of the Shadow Heart within the tree and drink the contents of the vial. Then, place your hand upon the trunk and surrender yourself to the curse. Only through this act can it be healed forever.

I crumpled the note in my fist, letting it fall to the ground.

It was time to end this once and for all.

Digging into my pack, I retrieved the cracked Shadow Heart, carefully holding its pieces together as I pressed them into the indentation on the tree.

The moment the black crystal touched the trunk, the broken pieces fused seamlessly, becoming whole again.

A powerful gust of wind swept through the ravine, shaking the massive tree and scattering the flowers from its branches.

As the wind howled around me, I watched in awe as the tree absorbed the Shadow Heart, sealing the indentation as though it had never existed.

Then, just as abruptly, the gale ceased, leaving an eerie, expectant silence in its wake.

I froze, watching as white petals floated gently to the ground, resting on my shoulders and in my hair.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

The rhythmic thudding of a strong heartbeat reached my ears. I leaned closer, pressing my ear to the smooth bark. The sound was coming from the tree itself.

Magic was undoubtedly at work, ancient and powerful. I couldn’t afford to hesitate—not with the curse already stirring, ready to strike again.

Reaching into my pocket, I retrieved the small vial. Its delicate glass gleamed in the faint light as I held it between my fingers. With a steadying breath, I pulled the cork free.

This was it. The final step. Drink the contents, place my hand on the tree, and it would all be over.

A sudden gust of wind whipped through the ravine, nearly knocking me off balance. I staggered, catching myself just in time.

Was that Lorelei’s voice?

Her distant cry carried over the hill, sharp and frantic. Was she okay? Were the bindings hurting her? Would she ever forgive me for what I’d done?

Did forgiveness even matter anymore?

“Fates, protect her all the days of her life,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

With shaking hands, I tipped the vial, letting the bitter liquid flow onto my tongue.

The effects were immediate. The fluid seemed to harden in my throat, cutting off my air. I gasped, clutching my chest as my lungs refused to draw breath.

“Zane!” Lorelei’s voice rang out again, closer this time, filled with desperation.

She shouldn’t have been able to break free—not from my bindings—but somehow, she had. I didn’t dare turn toward her. I couldn’t let her see me like this, choking on my final moments.

Stumbling forward, I pressed my hand against the tree.

It reacted instantly, pulling the life from my body. My heart clenched painfully, and I dropped to my knees, slumping forward until my cheek rested against the smooth bark.

The tree’s heartbeat filled my ears, louder and stronger with each passing second, drowning out Lorelei’s cries. Black dots swarmed at the edges of my vision, narrowing my world.

I couldn’t breathe. My chest burned as if a heavy weight were crushing me.

Lorelei’s screams grew louder, frantic, and full of anguish, but I couldn’t turn to face her.

A low, resonant hum emanated from the tree, vibrating through my bones.

You have your sacrifice. Now end the curse, I demanded silently, forcing the last of my energy into the tree.

A deafening crack split the air.

The world went dark. My soul tore free of my body, and I was no more.