Page 61 of Radiant Shadows

“Yes,” I replied, uncertain what that had to do with this.

Gram leaned back, looking up. “There is one story, though it’s hard to say how much of it is truth and how much is fiction at this point. But what I heard is that a vampire stole our grimoire after a dragon killed a member of our family. That witch’s sisters placed a curse on the dragon but never found the vampire.”

The vampire she was talking about was obviously Julian, and the witch who got murdered had to be Alice. That meant it was Tobias’s ancestor who killed her.

But now wasn’t the time to get caught up in the details.

“So, will you help me undo this curse?” I asked.

“I don’t like it. Our ancestors placed that curse on his family for a reason.”

“A reason that’s centuries old and has hurt countless people in the process. They cursed that dragon’s entire family—notjust the dragon. And if that dragon’s descendant, Tobias, falls in love with Arya, who he imprinted on, she’ll hate him if we don’t lift that curse, and he could die. Loveunrequited.” I tapped the page for emphasis.

Gram shook her head. “I don’t know. I think our family has suffered enough at the hands of magic.”

“But we’ve got the book to guide us now,” I insisted. “Please, we can’t just let Tobias and his whole family suffer like that. Or Arya.”

Gram looked at me for another long moment, then leaned forward again. “Before I agree to anything, I need to know how this came to be in your possession and when. You’ve been avoiding that question, but it’s time to come clean, Shea.”

I winced. She was right. No more secrets. No more lies. “I got it from a vampire who’s helping the shifters a few weeks ago. His name is Julian. He sensed my magic and wanted me to help him bring back the love of his life, Alice, who I now realize was one of our distant relatives.”

I kept my eyes closed after I stopped talking. I didn’t want to see the look of disapproval and disappointment on her face.

But then I heard the last sound I expected to hear from her—she chuckled. I slowly pulled open my eyelids, and the look in her eyes was warm.

“You really are something special,” she said.

I blinked at her for a moment, unsure how to take that.

“Does that mean you’ll help me break the curse?” I asked finally.

She smiled and nodded. “Tell your unfortunate dragon friend to be here tomorrow at 4 o’clock.”

A smile slowly spread across my face. “Omigod, thank you!” I threw my arms around her and hugged her tight in my excitement and gratitude.

Then I pulled away suddenly. “Wait. Does this mean I can keep the grimoire?”

She put her hands on my shoulders and looked into my eyes. “After all these generations, it foundyou.Yourblood unlocked its secrets. I think it’s time you take your rightful place in the Le Fey line. I won’t hold you back anymore.”

I hugged her again, squealing with overwhelming joy. This outcome was the last thing I expected to receive for my confession, and I was overcome with pride.

Tomorrow, we would break Tobias’s curse. I only hoped it wouldn’t be too late.

Chapter 23

Tobias

Waiting an entire day after I got the message from Shea was literal torture. Anxiety had so much cortisol coursing through my system that I didn’t sleep at all, and having to sit through classes the next day was agony. I spent practically every second of those twenty-four hours watching the clock, any clock, willing time to pass more quickly.

It was worse than watching grass grow, and far more urgent. I needed this curse to be broken so desperately, and I was finally blissfully close to that end.

The instant my final class was over, I couldn’t get out of the school fast enough. I didn’t even shower after Defense, and I didn’t care how badly I smelled or how soaked my clothes were.

At least, not until I met the frigid air outside of the controlled climate of the Dome. Even for a dragon, being damp in the cold was miserable, but it was a worthy price to pay for what I was about to gain—the freedom to be with Arya without fear, the hope of something no one in my family had had in a dozen generations.

Happily ever after.

With shivering fingers, I hastily opened the door of the Uber that was waiting for me outside the subway entrance and hopped in, just about slamming the back passenger door closed.

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