Page 53 of Cursed Evermore

“That’s why it’s dangerous.” Bastian nodded.

“And out of the question,” Alaric agreed. “Need I remind you that we are still in the mortal realm, where magic is weakest. If your spirit were to drift, we may not be able to get you back.”

“I won’t drift. I’ve gotten better at using ethereal magic. The Phantom Moon’s passing would also help to ground me.”

That made me pause. Ethereal magic was from the realm of the dead. It was usually unstable, but touched by celestial events like the Phantom Moon it became more easier to control. Fuck, her plan may actually work.

When Arielle looked back at me, her face brightened. “This will work, Wolfe. Please trust me.”

“Arielle—”

“If you keep Elariya in soul sleep for three days it could cause serious harm to her mind. You know this. If there’s a way to get the information faster and get her outbeforeit starts doing real damage, youshouldtake it.”

A pang of guilt I had no business feeling shot through me. But she was right.

I’d known from the start there was a risk. That soul sleep could fracture Elariya’s mind and leave her lost in a permanent haze, where dreams bled into waking and she no longer knew who she was. She’d be docile enough for interrogation, but the girl I’d taken—the one with fire in her eyes and fight in her spirit—might never return.

The protective cocoon I’d woven around her was meant to prevent that. I’d layered in spells to anchor her to herself. And tome. But here in the mortal realm, without the full strength of my magic, none of it was guaranteed.

I’d chosen soul sleep over locking her away in the dungeon because I needed her magic dormant, contained, and undetectable. Though it was burned out it didn’t mean her powers had gone away. She’d already shown she could portal unexpectedly. Active mage powers could interfere with the concealment spells that kept the ship hidden. The soul sleep also gave me time to think, strategize, and pull back from the edge I’d nearly gone over when her lips touched mine.

But if there was a better way, I needed to take it. Not just for efficiency. But because the thought of breaking her mind twisted something deep in the dark hollow place where my heart used to be.

Arielle’s eyes pled with me. “Dream walking will be safer and quicker. I could use the blood link from the tracking spell, enter her mind, and find out what she knows about the ring. It could be that simple.”

“Or not,” Bastian argued. “I don’t think you should take the risk.”

“Wolfe, please.” Arielle ignored him and focused on me.

I studied her face, so determined to help someone she'd never met. The weight of what I'd done, what I wasstilldoing, pressed against my chest. In that moment, I didn't see Arielle anymore. I saw Elariya, with those wide, innocent eyes that had stared past the monster in me.

Regardless of her crime, I’d gone to her as the devil disguised as temptation.

Maybe I owed her this small thing, which would also benefit me a great deal. “Okay. Do it.”

While Arielle looked relieved, Bastian frowned at me in cold disapproval.

Maybe he was right. But the fucked-up truth was this was a situation where there were no right answers. Only choices. And I’d already made mine.

Chapter 10

Elariya

“Awakening of Ash and Lies”

The dark expanse surrounding me breathed, an erratic heartbeat that pulsed in tandem with my own. As if they were perfectly synchronized to work as one.

Pitch was the color of the place around me. So dark, so black, so thick, I didn’t know if my eyes were open or closed.

Yet I was wide awake. But not.

It was difficult to understand what was happening to me. My mind seemed to be awake, but that was all. Everything else had shut down and I had no control of my body. It felt like I was locked away in my mind.

Maybe that’s whathedid to me. Trap me inside my mind.

Just like before, when I’d portaled and found myself falling into darkness, the metallic tang of fear weighed heavily in my mouth.

Though, I wasn’t falling now. I was floating. Not exactly moving. Just there in the air.Existing.