Devilish Game (Shadow Guild: The Rebel 4)

“The potion that you and Mordaca made—it’s not working.”

“Yes, it is. I can still see that your fated bond is broken. It’s visible in your aura.” She tilted her head, studying me. “Though I will say that it’s not quite as severed as I would like. I swear I can almost see it trying to return. Fate is a stubborn bitch, isn’t she?”

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“Then I need help resisting.”

“I told you to stay away from her.”

“It’s not as easy as it sounds.” I dragged my hand over my face. “She pulled me to her in a dream.”

“Oh.” Her lips formed a surprised O. “Really? What kind of dream?”

“There’s no need to discuss the details.”

“Ah. That kind of dream.”

“Whatever kind of dream it was, it’s impossible to stay away from her when she uses her magic to call me to her.”

“I doubt this was entirely her fault.” She tapped a crimson nail against her lips.

It was true. I’d wanted to go to her. And from the shocked look on Carrow’s face, she hadn’t done it intentionally.

“What can you do for me?” I asked. “Because so far, it’s not enough.”

“I can make you forget her.”

Horror struck me. Forget her?

I wanted those memories. I needed them to see me through the lonely future.

“If you forget her, you cannot love her,” Cyrenthia said.

“I don’t love.” Her.

I didn’t need to say that last bit because I didn’t love period. I didn’t even know how. I never had, not even before I’d been turned.

“Hmm.” She scrunched her nose and tilted her head, a gesture that indicated she didn’t believe me. Hell, I wasn’t sure if I believed me.

“We’re working together on something important,” I said. “People could die. I can’t forget her entirely if we’re going to fix that problem.”

“I see what you’re saying. And you’re right. If you forget her entirely, you’ll just meet her again and be drawn to her. What I can do is make you forget the romantic past between you. You’ll know her and be able to work with her. You’ll even know that she is your Cursed Mate—that will help you stay away from her. But you won’t remember the sweeter times. You won’t feel them pressing on your emotions.”

It sounded truly awful. Just the idea of it made my chest feel hollow. But the memory of how I’d felt when the Cursed Mate bond was taking effect was horrifying. I’d felt the old blood lust returning. The curse was so powerful it could compel my will. And it was Carrow’s life at risk.

This was no game.

I couldn’t be trusted around her.

I nodded. “All right. Do it.”

Cyrenthia rose. “This is the right choice.”

“It’s the only choice.”

“That, too.” She approached. “Do you have anything of hers?”

“Like a possession? No. Just memories.”