Page 277 of Cursed Evermore
“Was there really nothing at all at the camp to suggest who might be responsible?”
Arielle stilled, and I knew there was something she was holding back.
“Arielle, what is it?”
She breathed out another ragged sigh. “Please don’t tell Wolfe I told you any of this. Literallynoneof it.”
“Of course not.”
“That means you can’t mention it to him at all.”
Gods, it sounded serious. “I won’t breathe a word. I swear.”
She contemplated for a moment then gave me a stern stare. “Before the ball, Wolfe and the others went to that camp. The place was being glamoured, so they didn’t see any of what they found yesterday. They detected magic in the air. Dark magic. One with no signature.”
I stilled, realizing the gravity of what she was telling me. All magic was supposed to leave a signature—a trace—something linked to whoever cast it. “I didn’t know that was possible.”
“Neither did I until quite recently.” She reached across and took my hand. “The last reference we have to anything like that was the vortex that took your father.”
I went rigid, my blood turning to ice as the implications hit me. Dread pooled in my chest as the meaning sank in, cold fear washing over me.
“My… father?”
“Yes. Now, I don’t know if it was the same magical signature because there wasnosignature.”
“That’s too coincidental for it not to be the same thing.” My pulse hammered with each word.
Arielle nodded slowly. “Yeah. It is too coincidental.”
Blessed Mother. The truth was uglier than I realized. “My father was part of this…rebellion.”
“We don’t know that yet, but it’s likely. It…makes sense in ways.”
“Oh Gods.” I brought my hands up to my cheeks.
“Elariya, I’m sorry.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? This happened before the ball.”
She shook her head. “No. No one wants you to feel worse about your father than you already do, so I wasn’t allowed to tell you. Also, I wouldn’t have told you anyway.”
“Why?”
“Because…” She smiled wistfully. “You were so excited about Wolfe and seeing him again at the ball, there was no way I was going to spoil that for you. No way. Every girl deserves to have some happiness with the guy she wants, especially at a ball.” Her smile widened. “I wanted that for you. A night free from all the worries and problems.”
My throat tightened with emotion at her thoughtfulness, and my heart swelled with love for her. Arielle was truly a friend to me. A real friend. One who cared, one who was selfless, one who would carry a burden alone just to preserve a moment of joy.
“Thank you.” I held her gaze. “You truly are a great friend.”
“You too, Elariya. It’s going to be hard knowing you’ll forget me.”
I'd been so focused on Wolfe that I hadn't thought of the impact my memory curse would have on anyone else.
Of the group, I'd grown closest to Arielle, Garrick, and Sirril. Bastian and Alaric were the only ones I hadn't really interacted with, perhaps because they were always away.
But Arielle… she’d become as close as a sister to me. The only other person I’d thought of like that was Emabelle.
“I think my heart will remember you. I’d be so mad if it didn’t.” I tried for some light humor, even as a tear slid down my cheek.
