"I don't care what it costs," Lucian said immediately. "Whatever it takes. Whatever you need. We'll pay it."
Victoria's expression was pained. "You don't know what you're agreeing to."
"Then tell us," Nicholas said. "Tell us everything. And we'll decide if the price is worth it."
Victoria looked at all three of them. Then at Elena who had joined them in the courtyard.
"Inside," Victoria said. "This conversation should happen somewhere private."
They moved to the sitting room, the same room where they had discussed the transformation attempt days ago. Where everything had started falling apart.
Nicholas sat on the edge of his chair feeling every muscle in his body tense with desperate hope.
Victoria stood by the fireplace. She pulled out a small glowing crystal from her bag and set it on the mantle. Then she took a breath.
"Lilith didn't just die from the curse," Victoria began.
The statement hung in the air like a bomb.
"What?" Sebastian said.
