~ Isabella’s POV

"Bella, there's a curse... one that was put on me a long time ago," Lucian admitted, his voice almost a whisper. "It binds me in ways that have made it difficult to be honest, even with you. But you've been by my side, without knowing the full story."

I stared at him, unable to fully grasp what he’d just said. A curse? It felt like we had stepped into a tale from one of those ancient legends. But the seriousness in his expression was no story; it was real and raw. He held ...