Page 68 of His Sold Fated Mate

“And it stopped on her wedding day.”

I watched Elize frown. “Well, that makes sense.”

“Was there anything about the curse? How to stop it?”

I shook my head. “No, it’s just a diary. There is nothing evil in here. There is no plotting, no planning. It’s just about her life, and it suddenly stops.”

They all frowned. “So, the diary is useless?”

Aubrey frowned. “It doesn’t contain any answers to the questions you have.”

“Maybe a visit to the cauldron?” Elize offered. “Have you brought it down to the cauldron unlocked? Read anything?”

“That’s an idea,” Janella offered. “Why don’t we go see? Couldn’t hurt to try.”

Aubrey shrank a little in her chair. I knew how hard she’d been working trying to figure things out. I reached over, squeezing her hand. “Might be the answer.”

She gave me a weak smile in response.

We headed into the basement, where that cold chill set over me. I hated the feeling of dark magic even more than the smell. The rancid smell always made my stomach curl.

Aubrey glanced at me. “Are you okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I just hate being down here.”

“Same,” Riley added. “Makes my skin crawl.”

Janella scrunched up her nose. “You know I couldn’t really smell it before, but now I can. It doesn’t smell great. It’s like…”

“Rotting flesh,” Titus said. “Let’s be as quick as we can.”

We headed down the hallway, and Riley pushed open the door. Inside, the cauldron sat, but not like before. The water inside bubbled, seeping over the cauldron onto the ground. The energy in the room was stronger than before, and it vibrated throughout the space.

I felt like someone was pushing against me, shoving at my skin. I ground my teeth together as Aubrey stepped into the room. She frowned. “It feels so different in here today.”

Riley nodded in agreement. “I don’t understand how it changes so much. What makes it act up like this?”

“We’ve not been able to narrow down why or when it acts up. Try reading from the diary, Aubrey.”

“Where do you think I should read?” Aubrey asked, looking toward Elize and Janella.

“Just read anything.”

Aubrey popped the diary open and began reading from it.

As the others spoke, I felt someone wrapping around me, but no one was there. I felt heat course through my blood, and rage hit me like no other. I took my breath away at the sudden change in my emotions.

I looked at Aubrey, her eyes glued to the diary. She was talking with Janella, but she seemed so far away.

“Klaus?” Riley turned to me. “You good?”

I curled my hands into tight fists and tried to calm myself. It had to be a panic attack or something. But I couldn’t calm myself.

“Klaus?” Riley’s voice dropped lower, his face turning serious. All eyes turned to me, and I knew something wasn’t right. This feeling. I couldn’t control it.

“You need to tie me up.”

“What?” Aubrey looked stunned now. “What are you talking about? Klaus, what’s wrong?”