Page 48 of Hexual Healing

“My mate.”

The words hung between us, heavy with history I didn't have the vaguest idea how to ask about.

“The dragon,” I said.It wasn't a question.

“Her name was Vera.She was…complicated.Beautiful and terrible and absolutely convinced that love meant possession.”

“Sounds familiar.”

“Dragon psychology is remarkably consistent,” he said dryly.“They collect things.Hoard them.And they'd rather destroy their treasures than let anyone else have them.”

“Is that what happened?She destroyed you rather than let you go?”

“She destroyed me because I tried to leave.The Berserker rage awakened as I died.It brought me back…different.Stronger.Angrier.”He paused.“I hunted her for three years.”

“Did you find her?”

“Yes.”

He didn't elaborate, and I didn't push.Some stories didn't need endings spelled out.

“Is that why you helped me?”I asked.“Because of what happened to you?”

“Partly.But mostly because…” He paused, and I could tell he was choosing his words carefully.“Because when you crashed into my ward line, covered in curse residue and sulfur, you didn't smell like prey.You smelled like possibility.”

“Possibility?”

“The possibility that this time, things would end differently.”

The curse twisted at that, sending raw jabs through my chest.It didn't seem to like hope.Or maybe it just didn't like Baz having hope about me.

“It won't end differently,” I said quietly.“The curse won't let it.You know what it's designed to do.”

“I know what it'ssupposedto do.But your magic doesn't follow rules, Tansy.Maybe the curse won't either.”

“That's not how curses work.”

“That's not howmagicis supposed to work, but here we are with a sentient house and weaponized butterflies.”

As if to prove his point, one of the butterflies phased through the wall—apparently, they could do that now—and landed on my pillow.It transformed into a tiny glowing purple heart before dissolving.

“Even my magic ships us,” I said.“It obviously has terrible judgment.”

“It hasn’t been wrong so far.”

I wanted to argue, but exhaustion was finally winning.The house's janky lullaby was becoming hypnotic, and the curse had settled into a dull, manageable ache.

“Baz?”I said, already half-asleep.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks.For everything.”

“Tansy?”

“Hmmm?”

“We're going to break this curse.”