Page 37 of Gilded Curses

“Because of the stones. Many millennia ago, our ancestors settled in this valley. The outer reaches of this land, the places you traveled through, also existed, but this valley was lush, beautiful, and safe. When they arrived, they discovered a set of stones. Those stones manipulated and increased their powers into something far different and stronger.

“Over time, the Elites used the stones to twist this realm into a place no one could escape. We’ve been told this is best for all of us, that we’re safe here and no one could come after us,” Aurora explained.

“Why would anyone come after you?” Sahira asked.

“They told us the Golden Ones were once hunted for our ability to cast gold.”

“So that’s why gold flecks everything here,” she muttered.

“Yes. It is pretty but useless,” Alda said. “But it seems others would crave our gift and use it to make them wealthy.”

“That’s always possible, but many immortals have gifts others crave. Witches and warlocks can cast spells and control the elements, the arach control the dragons, and the dark fae have power over the shadows and elements. We all have something another species covets, but we don’t all hide because of it.”

“We’ve been told the dagadon were once nearly hunted to extinction,” Clive said. “Do you know if this is true?”

“I’ve never heard that, but I always believed the dagadon were nothing more than a legend told as fascinating bedtime stories. I don’t know if the dagadon being hunted is true, but it’s doubtful. If immortals started doing that to each other, we’d all have to live in constant fear, and none of us want that,” Sahira said. “Besides, you certainly don’t come across as a weak race. It would have taken a lot to hunt you to near extinction.”

“Even if all the other races ganged up on us? Or the arach unleashed the dragons on us?”

“If that happened, then no one would have been able to harvest your magic or gold. You’re useless to them if you’re dead, so what would be the point?”

They all exchanged glances before Clive spoke. “We don’t know. They never informed us about that.”

“I also don’t understand why they chose to hide instead of fight. You’re clearly not a pacifist race.”

“We will do what is necessary to survive.”

“Then why hide?”

They all looked at each other, but when their gazes fell helplessly on her again, she knew they didn’t have an answer. And she imagined much of what they’d been told were lies. Hecate, she yearned to punch that smug smile off Desmond’s face.

“Okay, tell me about these stones,” Sahira said. “How did they help create the Cursed Realm, and how do they keep all of us from opening portals?”

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

“They’re called the Augmentation Stones,” Clive said.

Sahira searched her memory for any such thing. She’d spent most of her life learning as much as she could about the magical world and its offerings but couldn’t recall ever reading or hearing about these stones.

“I’ve never heard of those,” she admitted.

“Until coming here, you believed we were a myth,” Aurora said. “Just because you’ve never heard of them doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”

“I never said they didn’t exist,” Sahira retorted. “I’m saying I’ve never heard of them and don’t know what they do.”

“They amplify and twist powers into something different and stronger,” Clive said. “In Epoch, they’ve taken our ability to manipulate time and twisted it into something more powerful and malignant. It’s why no one can open a portal in or out of Epoch. Those stones turned the magic of the original Elite into something malignant, but they allowed it to happen.”

“It sounds like they welcomed it,” Sahira muttered.

“They did.”

“Okay, so originally, Epoch was established to supposedly keep your people safe.”

“So they say.”

“And what you’re telling me is that no matter what, there’s no way out of here for us? That even though he said we would be able to leave, Desmond knows we can’t.”

“Yes,” Clive confirmed.