Chapter 50

VESTA'S POV

I lay on the cold stone altar, surrounded by the flickering flames of the candles that illuminated the dimly lit chamber. The air was heavy with the scent of incense, a heady mixture of sage and lavender that filled my senses as I braced myself for the ritual ahead. The witches, with their ancient knowledge and mystical powers, prepared to perform the rites that would free me from the bonds that tethered me to Lucius.

The lead witch, her eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light, approached me with purpose. Her hands moved deftly, tracing intricate patterns in the air as she began the ritual to remove the mark that Lucius had branded upon my skin. I gritted my teeth against the pain, feeling the searing heat of the magic as it worked its way through my body.

The room seemed to blur around me, the edges of my vision darkening as waves of agony washed over me. I clenched my fists, willing myself to endure, to survive the torment that threatened to consume me whole. Each moment