The Guardian of the Curse

ing the whole thing through the open door, began to st

gry with him," he said

ncern. "Matthew, you're too good. H

... I remember his family. They helped me so mu

sincerity. "He saw my success. He saw how close we are... profe

ought every word. Her face hardened, her rage

the bodyguards hauled me back into the room. "

igner shoe tapping impatie

clared, her voice ringing with finality. "Only a brilliant

declaration of their aff

she ki

The pain was blinding, a white-hot agony that cons

mall, windowless spare room. The door was locked from the outside.

ribs screamed with every breath. The thought of my moth

. She was an older woman who had worked for the Chadwick family f

ood on the floor. Her

ng. Please. Help me. Call the police.

her face crumpled. Tears

h anguish. "My husband... his medical bills... Mrs. Chadw

yes begging for underst

the room, and the

law, decency, loyalty-it all meant nothing in the face of Nico

onventional methods were useless, I

I closed my eyes and focused on the guard outside my door. I remembered hi

fe, I used the curse for my

lent room, my voice sti

side get a sudden,

I heard a muffled groan from the hallway, t

door. It w

his post. It

t and keys on the dresser in the main hall where they'd been

for the front doo

ing. Her arm was linked through his