vy silence of my chamber, and even the sunlight seemed hesitant, as if unsure whether to bless or judge what had transpired. I sat by the window, the silver dagger Lysandra

ecause not all vampires wanted peace. A rival clan, desperate to maintain control, cursed Lysandra's bloodline to silence her magic forever. The curse binds the magic, making it dormant unless awakened by a blood bond like the one we share." I swallowed hard. The weight of this knowledge settled over me like a shroud. "So, the curse is why my powers were hidden," I said, more to myself than to him. "Yes," Lucien confirmed. "And why you were chosen. You carry the key to breaking the curse, but also the danger of unleashing its full wrath." The room seemed to grow colder. The implications were clear my magic could save or destroy. I was both a beacon of hope and a target. Lucien's gaze sharpened. "That is why the Blood Moon trial was necessary to see if you can control the magic without succumbing to the curse's madness." I looked down at the dagger in my hand, its runes faintly glowing in the morning light. "And if I fail?" "Then the curse consumes us all," he said quietly. The starkness of his words made my blood run cold. The following days were a whirlwind of training and preparation. Lucien pushed me harder than ever, teaching me to channel the raw energy in my veins, to wield the magic that once lay dormant. Each lesson was a battle between doubt and determination, fear and hope. One afternoon, as the sun dipped low behind the mountains, Lucien took me to a secluded part of the palace gardens a place where ancient trees whispered secrets in the wind. "Magic," he said, "is not just power. It's connection. To the past, to each other, and to what we wish to become." He extended his hand, and I hesitated before placing mine in his. The blood bond pulsed beneath my skin, a warm current that spread through me like fire and ice. I closed my eyes, reaching deep inside to summon the magic Lysandra's legacy had e