Page 167 of Captive of Secrets and Storms

At last, the curse begins to yield.

The mass of darkness coils in on itself, shrinking to the size of a throwing stone.

Then smaller.

A pebble.

I push harder, deeper, forcing my power to finish what I started. To eradicate the vile thing hollowing Darius from the inside. To pay the debt binding me to the Shadow Prince.

To earn my freedom.

My magic strains, screaming in protest, burning me from the inside out.

The darkness dwindles to a grain of rice.

Victory hovers so close I can almost feel it between my fingers. I reach for it, desperate, reckless⁠—

But like a candle caught in a sudden breeze, the fire of my magic flares once, blazing and searing…

Then vanishes.

My eyes fly open. “No!”

I claw inward, digging for anything—anything—a spark, a cinder, a single thread of warmth left behind.

Please.

I’m right there. So close. I just need a little more.

There’s nothing.

The well is dry.

I’ve burned out.

I failed.

The thought lands heavy and final as the world tilts, darkness swallowing me whole.

Just like last time.

30

The moment the bright, merciless rising sun strikes my face, failure consumes me.

I almost did it…

I almost destroyed the curse.

But I didn’t.

I may be part Light Fae, but it’s obvious I am not powerful enough to eliminate the darkness lodged in Darius’s body.

And he doesn’t seem to care.

In fact, he seems to welcome it.

My fingers curl into the bedsheets. The fabric is cool and smooth beneath my nails. Familiar. I’m back in the guest-room bed. In my bed. Darius must’ve carried me here after I passed out. After I let myself down.