Marabella
“What if the talisman was the key to locking it? Like, I don’t know a timer, waiting for it to be placed inside with him to seal it?” I ask him as I start pacing before him. This could be possible, right? I might be getting at something.
Kaif hums. “That is possible, but we have no idea how he sealed it. Did he tell you the spell?” he asks me, and I can see the glimmer of hope in his eyes.
I stop in my step and turn to him. “Wait, you said you thought the Talisman sealed it, meaning it has power that could be channeled? When Dominic died, where was the talisman? Could that be enough power to preserve his life force?” I ask. The more we talk, it feels like puzzle pieces are clicking into place. We need to figure this out.
“Kyan was wearing it, his father put it on him…. that morning,” Kaif whispers the last part.
“Then you have a power source and the tether,” I tell him, crossing my arms thoughtfully. We are getting somewhere.
“That damn prick, I bet he is real smug at pulling that over me,” Kaif laughs. “But we still have no idea what spell he used to seal it, so if he didn’t tell you, we may struggle to open it?” he adds.
“No, we don’t have the spell, but I have a link to him. Just gotta pull him forward, I guess?” I shrug. I don’t think it would be so easy, just go to Dominic and get an answer, but this progress is already more than we have ever had, so I dare not to complain. “But I need that talisman; it is out of the dagger, isn’t it?” Kaif nods. “And I need that stone and Celeste’s grimoires,” I say, pursing my lips as I look over at Kaif again.
Kaif laughs. “Grimoires, I wouldn’t know the first place to look for those. Celeste kept them hidden even from the coven.”
Where would she have kept them? “Moon Goddess realm?” Kora offers, and I have a feeling she is right. The only issue is, I can’t enter the Moon Goddess realm for long enough to be able to search for them. “But Eziah can, or Mom,” Kora suddenly suggests.
“Grimoires, I think I know where I can find them, but I need that stone. Dominic keeps saying I need the stones, so I need the one my brother has and the one Kyan tossed in with his father,” I announce and Kaif looks at me curiously.
“This is why you didn’t want Kyan to know, isn’t it? You don’t want to disappoint him if it is all for nothing?” I nod in agreement. A sliver of guilt washes over me for hiding something from Kyan, but I need to make sure first.
“Okay, but how does this help with the curse?” Kaif asks, and I am actually thankful to have him here, someone who knows the ins and outs, without Kyan knowing the plan.
“We have to break the stones,” I state with determination.
Kaif shakes his impossibly massive head. “Impossible, nothing will break those stones; they are indestructible. Believe me, we have tried for centuries to break that damn talisman,” Kaif adds.
Although what he says makes sense, I have another theory. “Yes, but did you have both of them?” I ask him, wiggling my brows, and he seems to think.
“Balance,” he whispers, as if he is having a lightbulb moment, before he becomes serious again. “Right. Everything has a balance, but I don’t think that is all there is to the curse! There is more to it, I can feel it,” Kaif mutters the last part and looks away. For a brief moment, he is deep in thought, and then, his eyes snap back at me. “No, the stones are only part of it.”
“Hades cursed you to find your redemption, right?” I ask and he nods in agreement.
“Yes, but Dominic told Kyan I have to forgive myself, which I don’t have any reason to hate myself in my opinion that requires forgiving myself for,” Kaif snarls.
“What if it isn’t forgiveness or redemption, which leads to another thing I have noticed; that I wanted to tell you about… I wanted to try anyway.” His claws scratch over the carpet, slicing it as his eyes flicker dangerously. I can feel he is slightly untrusting of my intentions, so I explain, hoping for the best.
“As you said, balance,” I tell him as I switch my weight from one leg to another as I take a deep breath. I walk over to him, and he looks up at me when I stop in front of him. My eyes trail over the beast before me, yet I feel no fear. My gaze softens, and I hope he will feel my intentions are pure.
“What do you mean?” he asks, looking at me with nothing but confusion in his eyes.
“One thing I have noticed in all your past lives, your vessel was never marked. I marked Kyan. However, they always went crazy before you let them mark your vessel,” I begin.
“No one did mark my vessel, but she still went mad anyway,” Kaif corrects me.
“Okay,” I tell him before climbing into his lap. He puts his legs down, and I straddle him. I lock eyes with Kaif; asking the question that has been burning in my mind. “But did any of them mark you?” I ask him, tilting my head and gently tracing my hand over his furry jaw.
“Why would they mark me? They mark the human side; that’s what the Lycan’s are bound to,” he answers in confusion.
“Yes, but maybe that’s where they went wrong; the others always got Luna’s version of events, the anger, the hatred; they never got yours. I did because Dominic gave me the shadows. I know the history behind your actions. But what if the key to that was not you marking them or your vessel? You give them your biggest regrets when you mark them. What if they mark you? What if it gives them Luna’s?” I tell him, while searching his eyes, hoping he will understand. I need him to understand me and my intentions more than I need my next breath.
“You think if they marked me, they would know why I killed them?” he asks.
“I don’t think your curse has anything to do with your redemption. I think it has to do with your rejection. You don’t need redemption Kaif, you need acceptance,” I whisper, letting my canines elongate. Kaif cups my face with his huge hand, his thumb brushing over the sharp points of my teeth.