CHAPTER 126 : DARK FATE

Aiden raked a hand through his hair, the hopelessness of the situation frustrating the life out of him. "I don't understand," he said to Morane, the frustration in his tone fully on display. "There has to be another way! What do you mean, we have to stop being mates?"

"Look, I am not angry with you. You have done a lot for us, and we are genuinely grateful, but this…this was the last thing I expected to hear. I never even expected to ever hear such," he said as he leaned forward slightly and ran his hands over his face before gripping his hair in desperation. "This curse of a thing is just so exhausting."

"I know, I understand," Morane said, raising her hands slightly. "But listen to me first. Please calm down," she said softly, fully understanding what the three of them were currently going through. "The curse can only be broken by the witch who cursed you or someone from her bloodline. Do you understand what that means? We do not even know who the witch is. Talk more about someone from her bloodline. Where would we start?"

She then paused, letting her words sink in. "It took years just to finally figure out what this curse is. Finding the witch or her descendants is something entirely different. I can try my best, but I have to be honest with you three, I do not think it will be easy. There is a high chance I won't succeed."

"Can't you do a locating spell or something?" Bryan asked as he stood up abruptly, running a hand over his hair while pacing. "Can't you? That is what it's called, right? A locating spell. The one you did for Kira when she was kidnapped. You remember, right? Can't you try anything, Morane?" He stopped pacing and looked at her directly, his eyes as if he were pleading for another alternative. "You are the best witch we know!"

Morane shook her head, her face showing how much regret she was feeling at the moment. "This is stronger than me, Bryan. I wish I could do something; I wish there could be another way, but this... this is pure dark magic. Do you not understand what that means for it to reach the point where I have to tell you three to stop being mates? I do not know what your family might have done or maybe your ancestors did to have brought this upon you two, but this curse is not just any spell. It is ancient, cruel, and dark. I don't think this curse is any of your fault; I feel it's either something ancient, I don't know. I won't stop trying to help, but even my magic can only go so far."

"Okay, so, what about your friends? Your fellow witches. What about them? Can't they help?" Bryan asked, trying his best to remain calm.

"Their answers are the same with mine," Morane tells him. "This is not a spell that is practiced just like that. It's very dangerous, and they also think this is the best way, unless we find the witch who cursed you or the witch's descendant. We could try finding this witch, but just like I said, there is a high chance it would take many years, and we still might not be able to find the witch or her descendant. And you three don't have those years to be together; you might end up killing her."

Kira could not believe her ears as her gaze darted between her mates and Morane. Her hands trembled as she lifted them to her face, covering her mouth and nose in disbelief. "I don't know what to say. How should I react?" she murmured to herself, the weight of it all almost suffocating her.

"I am deeply sorry it had to come to this," Morane said, her voice soft and filled with regret. "I wish I could do more, but if Kira stays with you two—if you two remain mated to her—the curse will find a way to kill her. That is just how the curse is. The curse is against love, and this is not just for Kira. Anyone you two fall in love with will suffer the same. I am sure that if Kira dies, you two will be miserable, especially when the curse takes over and makes you do it."

 

"This is the hard truth," Morane continued after a pause. "And I know if I don't warn you all, you might do something you will regret. This is not even a warning anymore; it is something that must be done for your sakes, and I will take the responsibility for breaking you three apart." Then she chuckled sadly and muttered, "I have said a lot, but that is the only way to make you three understand where I am coming from."

"Ah, there is something else I almost forgot to say," Morane suddenly remembered and started speaking again.

"When the curse took over and I tried to use my magic to stop it, the darkness resisted me. I am ashamed to admit this, but if it happens again, I do not know if I will be able to stop it." She said to them, her tone earnest. "This curse is dangerous. It will only grow stronger and cause you three pain. You three cannot be together. I believe I have fully explained everything."

When she finished speaking, she let out a tired breath and stood up, her tome still clutched in her hands. "I will give you three some space to think and talk about this," she said gently, knowing that it was a lot to take in. "I will be in my room. Let me know when you are all finished."

Morane gave them one last sympathetic look before turning and leaving the room.

As Morane left, Kira didn't move. She remained on the couch, her hands still on her face as her mind spun. She was still trying to grasp the reality of what Morane had just told them, but it was so difficult to grasp. "How could everything we built... The pain, trust, the forgiveness, how could everything in just what…days? Weeks? How could it all just crumble in one day?" she thought.

Meanwhile, Aiden, who was seated beside her, just stared blankly at the floor. He had no idea what to say or what to think. It was like all the strength he had despite being so strong had been drained from him. He was not looking at Kira, he was not looking at his brother, he was not looking at anything. It was like time had stopped for him.

And Bryan, on the other hand, could not take it. It was too much. Without saying anything, he made his way to the door and walked out. He needed to just…get out of that suffocating room. He could not bear it.