Austin’s POV
Explaining the truth to Madison was harder than facing an enemy on the battlefield. She was sitting in front of me, wrapped in a blanket I brought for her. She looks terrified, her posture guarded, her eyes tired but sharp. The room is still carrying the faint scent of blood and magic from the night before. I hate how she saw me yesterday, how I hurt her, how she was feeling with me, pain, loss of control, and fear.
“There’s something you need to understand,” I said carefully. “About what’s happening to you. About Dylan.”
She didn’t reply. But I can sense her urgency to know what exactly happened to her yesterday. What exactly Dylan did!
“The mark reappearing wasn’t natural,” I continued. “It wasn’t your body failing or your will weakening. It was forced. A blood curse. An
