Chapter202:The Curse

|| Lilac's POV || The Nightshade archives smelled of old parchment and damp stone, the air thick with the weight of centuries. My fingers trailed along the spines of ancient tomes, each one whispering secrets I wasn’t sure I wanted to uncover. But the unease in my bones wouldn’t let me rest. Not after the black rose. Not after the dreams. Aurora was safe—for now—asleep in the nursery under the watchful eyes of her guards. But the words of Endora still rang in my ears, "The shadows are stirring, Luna. And they whisper your daughter’s name." I pulled a heavy scroll from the shelf, its edges brittle with age. The wax seal cracked under my touch, unfurling like a breath held too long. And there it was, scrawled in ink so dark it seemed to bleed into the parchment. "The child of Nightshades who breaks the curse shall be the key to the witch’s ascension." My breath hitched. Aurora. My baby! A cold dread slithered down my spine. "Lilac?" I startled, nearly dropping the scroll as Alaric’s voic