Page 201 of Cursed Evermore

Magic thrummed through every stone, every beam of light, every breath I took in this incredible place.

I could have spent hours drinking in the impossible beauty of it all. Being here felt like stepping into a dream I never wanted to wake from. So it was no surprise I'd find myself drawn to the most sacred space of all.

Nestled in the heart of Hyxian was the statue of the Blessed Mother, radiating a sacred presence that demanded reverence from every soul who passed by.

I stood before her with my heart caught in my throat.

She was breathtaking. Carved from the same pale moonstone as the academy walls, yet somehow, she seemed to glow brighter, as if lit from within by divine grace. Her face shone with serenity, her hands outstretched in blessing. Delicate robes flowed around her marble form, so intricately carved they seemed to move in an invisible breeze.

I'd seen statues of the Blessed Mother before, but never one that made me feel as if she might open her eyes and speak to me at any moment. The ones I'd seen were from the old world, before the Accords. They were considered historical artwork in the mortal lands. But this...

A sense of peace I'd never experienced before settled over me. A feeling I wanted to keep in my soul forever.

A prayer rose from my heart as I gazed into her eyes, marble that should have been cold yet was somehow warm with divine love.

“Blessed Mother,” I whispered, “please help me find my path to destiny by whatever means you see fit.”

I was certain I imagined it, but she seemed to shimmer in response. Or perhaps it was simply the magic here. I'd felt it even before we rode through the castle gates. The magic was different from what flowed through the air in the realm. Here it was potent, vibrant, soul-soothing. Like a dose of new life.

The moment Arielle and I stepped out of the carriage, the weight of the curse and everything that had happened since leaving home seemed to lift from my shoulders. My mind had felt lighter, open to possibilities I hadn't dared imagine.

It was also a relief that it was just the two of us, so I didn't have to deal with the drunken embarrassment from yesterday when I inevitably saw Garrick. Though he was within range, watching from afar in case anything happened.

We'd been here for a few hours. I'd toured the place, sat through the morning assembly with all the students—a majority of whom had the same hair color as me—and I'd met some of Arielle's old teachers while we did the first two lessons for the day.

Arielle had a meeting with the archmage, so I decided to return to the place that had given me such peace.

I pulled my gaze away from the Blessed Mother and looked around me. That sense of belonging filled my soul, and I recalled the heartfelt words Wolfe told me when I first arrived in Galaythia. That I belonged here.

I experienced something different every day that made me fall deeper in love with the realm. I'd never stood a chance of resisting the connection I'd felt. Even now, those feelings continued to grow.

Wolfe had officially enlisted me as a royal mage in training and expanded the story we'd crafted based on the realm's laws for those of mixed heritage born in the mortal lands.

According to our tale, I was ElariyaClearwayerand my family had been divided about where I was to live. Since mytwenty-first birthday was a few months away, I'd been allowed to choose the magical realm and pursue my studies here. I'd also gotten the certificate to show that my powers were officially unbound—though they'd never actually been bound.

Now my fabricated background had more depth and believability while still keeping my identity hidden.

Wolfe had also reinforced the wards he placed up around my background so if anyone decided to investigate me, they’d see what we wanted them to see.

That said, the academy wasonlywilling to accept me because the enrollment order came directly from Wolfe. And they didn't question who I was, either.

The remarkable thing about the lie was how much it felt like my own truth. The lie deeply resonated with me because it was exactly what I wanted to do.

I wasn't overlooking the darker side of what brought me to the magical realm, but truth was truth and would always be true no matter what happened.

Guilt twisted my gut at the acknowledgment, and a sheen of cold sweat broke across my skin. It felt like I was turning my back on my family again. Despite the joy I felt from what Wolfe had done for them, I knew they were worried sick about me. And here I was, embracing and indulging in magic.

My mother would never have agreed to this.Never. Not even with my birthday approaching and if the situation with Thayden didn't exist.

Though my father would never force me to marry anyone, he would have gone along with whatever Mother said because living in the magical realm meant being away from them. He wouldn't have wanted her to worry, and he felt any discussion of magic was outside his territory.

I was undoubtedly set to live in the mortal lands forever. But it seemed that maybe, justmaybe, destiny had other things instore for me. It certainly felt that way this morning when I was with Wolfe.

Gods, the mere thought of him and the events of last night,andthis morning, sent my body into a tailspin of emotion.

Aside from the whole drunken confession—that I was never, ever, ever, ever going to live down—I couldn't get over the fact that I'd slept next to him. For the entire night. And I accidentally touched him in the one place I shouldn't.

Gods be good.