Chapter Thirty Eight

Lucian

As I lie on my side, basking in the morning sun, I can't help but wonder what Lily is doing. The very thought of losing her plagues me, but what can I do except lie here and wonder?

Is she okay?

Has she moved on with her life?

Has she forgotten all about me?

A long sigh escapes me and catches Logan's attention. As much as I love seeing my family again, I long for home. I wish we could all just go home and live out our lives as intended.

"What made you look so gloomy, brother? I don't know that I've ever seen such a long face from a wolf. Er, well, you know this form."

It's hideous, I know. She took my wolf form and twisted it into something unrecognizable in some ways. I'm bigger than I ever was and now have missing fur from where I ran into the barrier.

He stares at me blankly. "I wish I could understand you."

I reply, even though I know he won't hear me. I wish you could too. It would make things so much easier and less lonely. Maybe we can figure out how to get home, if only I spoke words and not growls.

Suddenly, a knock at the door startles me, and I growl in warning. It's probably just the witch, but something about her is off.

When Logan mentioned she knew too much about what was going on outside of here, he was right. I listened to them talk about it all night as they filled me in.

How could she know that if she had been trapped here all this time? How is she getting her information? Is there someone who crosses the magical line or something?

"Well, I can tell you are thinking about something. What is it?" Logan asks, but I hear that witch's voice as she enters through the door.

"I am just stopping by. Thought you all would like some more muffins," she coos.

Looking over my shoulder, I watch as my mother takes the basket from her with a smile. "We love muffins. You can come in, if you'd like."

Emmeline glances over toward me, a smirk pulling at the corner of her lips. Whatever she's thinking, I don't like it all. That looks just screams trouble.

"Oh, if you don't mind, I think I will. It'd probably be good if I checked on Lucian over here. I'm sure he's growing tired of being stuck in wolf form."

Why are you here, witch? I know you can hear me and you're ignoring me, so what is your game? What are you playing at?

Ma shuts the door behind her softly and glares at her while her back is turned. If I could smile, I would. At least they are on my side.

"How is it going, Lucian?" Emmeline drops to her knees in front of me, reaching out to stroke my fur, but I jerk away. She bites at her lower lip as she lowers her hand. "In a cranky mood today? Well, I thought you might want an update about your mate."

Pa steps up behind me, his boots hitting hard against the floor of their home. "Well, he obviously can't say anything, so I will. What about her?"

"She's decided to take Corbin up on his offer and become his mate," Emmeline says plainly, without emotion.

I wish I could read her thoughts as she reads mine, but I don't know that I'd like what I find. This blank look is slowly killing me. There is no way Lillian has chosen Corbin unless she has no other choice.

She reaches out again while I'm too lost in thought to notice and strokes the fur between my ears. "I'm so sorry she did that. She couldn't be bothered finding you and helping you break the curse. It's really sad she would do such a thing."

No. I don't believe you. That can't be true. I whine, catching everyone off guard. You're lying to me.

I snap my teeth in her direction to get her to stop petting me, but all she does is smile before hiding it away.

"I'm so sorry Lucian, but it's real."

Dread fills me and overflows. How can this be my reality?

The one person who could set me free chooses another. Something about this situation feels so wrong.

My family gathers around me, my mother the first to lean down and wrap her arms around my neck in a show of support. "I'm so sorry, my child. Things will be okay."

No, they won't. Nothing about this is okay. This can't be real. I'm never breaking my curse. That witch is haunting me from the grave and now her descendant is taking my freedom all over again.

Emmeline stares at me, a smirk slowly appearing. "I'm sure everything will be fine."

Ma looks up at her and I catch a look of hatred across her delicate features before she pushes them back. "What about his curse? What could break that? We'd love to have our son back so we can talk to him and I'm sure he's tired of this form."

Emmeline shrugs her shoulders. "My sister cast this curse, and there are only certain ways it could break. Sadly, I am not privy to the details."

I lunge for her, my teeth gnashing in her face. Liar! You know how to free me. I can see it in your eyes. Tell them the truth.

Pa grabs me around the neck and hauls me backward. "Son, stop it. Hold on."

No, she's hiding something from all of us. She knows how to free me and she's fulfilling her sister's wishes for me to be this monster forever.

"I believe being the beast for so long has upset him," Emmeline suggests. "Maybe we could see what's in the books here to help alleviate his distress."

I turn just as my parents exchange a look, but Logan is my saving grace.

"You know what? We don't want to look through your books," he says calmly. "I believe you know exactly what happened to him and what would free him. I also think you are hiding things because you know way too much about what happens outside of this cursed realm. How about telling the truth for once?"

As my gaze shifts in her direction, I notice the way her face changes. The smile she wears fades slowly into a grimace. "I've been nothing but kind to you all these years and now you doubt me. What have I ever done to cause this distrust?"

Ma stands beside me, followed by Pa as they move forward a step, their bodies shielding me.

Pa is the first to speak, his voice gruff. "I think you've been lying to us. Logan is right. You know way too much about what goes on out there. You're trapped in here the same as us, or are you?"

Ma reaches her hand toward him, grabbing his hand in hers. "He's right. We've stood by way too long and dismissed all these occurrences, but now it's all too clear you know something. How do you end my son's curse?"

She cackles as she stands, backing away slowly. "His curse can't end, not as long as I'm alive and he's unmated. You don't want to kill me, though. Not when I've been your only friend all these years."

She's Natalia's coven bonded. I should have known that she would make her sister that. That means all we have to do is kill her to break the final binding. Then I can take Lillian as my mate. Everyone can be saved.

Emmeline glares at me, a look of malice in her eyes. "You're too hopeful, beast."

I'm not too hopeful. All I have to do is end you and then Grandmother can tell Lillian everything. I'll be free and you'll be dead.

She cackles again as she inches toward the door. "Oh, Lucian. You are so na?ve. How would you ever leave this realm? You don’t have magic. Besides, killing me won’t work. Not when she’s not really dead. Good luck catching me.”

In a puff of smoke, she disappears.

No! I growl. She isn't getting away this easily.

As I lunge for the door, Logan grabs a hold of my shoulder on one side, while Pa grabs the other.

"No, son. You don't know what kind of trap you're walking into. We're on her playing field and one wrong move could end you. Then what good would you be to anyone? She's got something up her sleeve and we need to think this through."

Think this through? She's at her house waiting for us to crumble before she kills us all or casts another spell. She's no better than her sister. Lillian needs me and I have to get back before something happens with Corbin.

Ma looks at me blankly. "I wish we could understand you instead of all the growls and snarls. Though I know you are upset, I don't know if you have a plan or are blindly rushing into it. I'm guessing the latter."

Leave it to my mother to guess I'm going in blind. She knows me all too well, even though she hasn't seen me for all these years.

I calm and sit on my back legs, waiting for their thoughts on the matter. Honestly, we don't have time to waste. My main goal is killing the witch so everyone is free to discuss the curse, then take what is mine.

I'm coming for you, my Lily. You and I will never be apart again. No witch or realm will stand between us ever again.

Logan leans down, brushing his hand across the fur on my face. "What do we need to do for you to be free of this curse?"

Kill the witch, for starters. Ripping her head from her shoulders would be a good start. I huff out a breath, hoping they will know what I mean.

"I understand killing the witch just from what we heard, but then what? Can your supposed mate really free you? What does she have to do?" Ma asks.

Become my mate. I freeze for a minute. The curse should break once we exchange bites, but that's all I know. It's not like Natalia really went in depth on my curse and there is the fact that I passed out as she was casting it.

Could I have forgotten some important detail? What else could there be?

Suddenly, Emmeline's voice sounds around us, though she isn't here and it startles me. I stand with a growl as she speaks.

"The clock is ticking. Lillian is taking Corbin's deal, so even if you kill me, you won't be able to do anything about your curse or escape here. Sure, you can talk about it, but what good does that do you? You won't be able to fulfill the last part," she says with a laugh, and it grows quiet again.

Why does she always pop up? Can she hear my thoughts even from afar?

"Yes, Lucian. I can hear you even at a distance," she cackles. "You might as well give up now because there isn't a way to save you anymore. Even if you kill me, and Lillian isn't mated to Corbin, will she be willing to do what it takes to free you? Do you even know the last part of the requirement?"

Sighing, I sit back and stare at my family. This just sucks.