Page 129 of The Moonborn's Curse

She turned her face to the window.

"The ritual worked. The Moon goddess, I have seen her," she said. "I asked her to sever the bond."

He froze.

"No. Seren, that's not what I want. I—"

"Let me finish."

She didn't look at him. She stared at the wall, voice steady, as if there was nothing left in her.

"She told me you could keep your strength and speed. That you didn't need me for that. She has allowed the bond to unravel into a single thread. Once one of us...one of us consummates with another —either of us— the prophecy dies."

She finally looked at him.

"You can be with Lia. Your pain will stop. The bond is muted from my end. I won’t feel it happen."

"No," he whispered, horror spreading through him. "No, that's not what I want."

"I've given you freedom," Seren said softly as if he hadn't spoken. "To be with the one you really love."

She paused. Her voice barely a breath.

"And now... you must let me find my own way."

She turned from him.

"What more do you want from me?"

Something inside Hagan snapped.

"Everything!" he choked, voice cracking. "I want everything I threw away—I want you!"

He reached for her—grabbing her hand, her wrist, desperate to make her see before it was too late.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Seren—please, please just—listen."

She tried to pull away, but he clung to her, his hold getting tighter, as if letting go would kill him.

"I was wrong," he gasped. "I know I was wrong. I spat on everything I was given—on the gifts, on you. And you—you were a gift I never deserved. You were everything. And I—I was too blind to see it."

His grip loosened as her resistance grew firmer, but he kept talking, breathless and unfiltered.

"I should've listened. To my instincts. To you. I should've kept Lia at arm's length the second I saw the way even a mention of her name made you withdraw. I knew it. I knew it was wrong, and I still let it happen."

Her breathing stayed steady. Still turned away.

He pressed a hand to his chest, his voice breaking open.

"But I told myself I could handle it. That I could still be her friend and have you. That I was strong enough, smart enough, in control enough to walk that line."

He looked at her then—truly looked, tears in his eyes.

"But I wasn't. It was my ego, Seren. My pride. I didn't want to admit I was wrong until it was too late."

"I swear—I would never let it happen again. I wouldn't look at her. I wouldn't let anyone come between us again. Just... tell me what to do. I'll do it. Please."

Still, she didn't move.

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