Page 151 of Cursed Dreams
She stepped back as if burned, her mind spinning with too many truths, too many lies, she didn’t know what to believe anymore. Her father wouldn’t lie to her, yet he wasn’t denying Vaelith’s words. And Caelum, he never told her had been dream walking with others. It was all too much. Everything she had ever believed in, everyone she had ever trusted.
Thalia’s chest heaved with uneven breaths, heart thundering behind her ribs. The air between them was thick with magic. She turned toward her father, Rodric, desperation written across her face.
“Tell me he’s lying,” she pleaded. “Tell me none of this is true.”
Rodric stepped toward her, slowly, hands lifted in a calming gesture. His face, lined with pain, shame, and so much love, crumpled as he looked at her.
“Thalia…” His voice broke, rough with emotion. “You are my daughter. Youwill alwaysbe my daughter. No matter what anyone says.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
“Your, your mother, Goldora and I we prayed for you,” he continued. “Weknewwhat you were when the priestess brought you to us. But we didn’t care. We neveroncecared. You were ours the moment we held you.”
“You—” she choked. “You knew?”
Rodric nodded. “I knew. Not everything, not how your powers would manifest or what the future would ask of you. But I knew you were different. That the gods had placed something extraordinary in our care. And not a day has passed where I haven’t thanked them for it.”
Thalia shook, overcome, lips parted as sobs trembled in her throat. Her father took another step forward.
“I havealwaysloved you,” he whispered, voice breaking. “And I amso proudof the beautiful female you’ve become. Nothing,nothing,can change that.”
Vaelith’s roar split the clearing like thunder. Shadows pulsed outward from his feet, his body glowing with barely restrained rage. “You dare to speak of love after the lies you’ve spun?”
Thalia stumbled back from the force of his voice.
“You’venevertold her the truth,” Vaelith growled, his golden eyes blazing. “She doesn’t even know what sheis.”
“Then tell me!” Thalia screamed, whirling on him. “What am I?”
Vaelith’s chest heaved. “I never lied to you. Thalia, I’ve always told you the truth.”
“You haven’t told me anything!” she cried.
“Think back,” he said, voice like gravel, pleading. “Think back to the night at the tavern after the first night we ...”
Her stomach twisted. She put her hand up to stop him “I remember”
“You asked me what was wrong with your magic. You were confused, afraid it was broken, afraid you were broken. Do you remember what I said?”
She shook her head violently. “Stop—”
“I said it wasn’t wrong. That it wascurious. That itfelt like mine.”
“Stop talking in riddles,” she snapped, but a thread of fear had already rooted in her spine. Deep down, something, some instinct, was bracing for what was coming.
Vaelith stepped closer, shadows coiling at his back. “It felt like mine… because itis.”
“No.” Her voice was a whisper now. “No, no, no,”
“You are Dragon Fae, Thalia.”
Her knees nearly buckled.
“You were born of the same ancient blood that flows through me,” he continued, his voice rough but steady. “Your magic, white, brilliant, celestial light, it’s the twin to my shadows. Opposites. Equals. And you—” he gestured to the air between them, “you werechosen. Used by them “he spat in Rodric’s direction “
Only a dragon could enter the forest. Only a dragon can break the curse.”
“Stop,” she gasped, pressing her hands to her ears.
