“Are you ready, sweetie?” she asked, giving Bella the chance to voice any last hesitation.
Bella took a shaky breath, then nodded, her gaze unwavering. “I’m ready.”
With a deep inhale, Lora extended her hands, resting them firmly on Bella’s temples once more. As the connection strengthened, Bella’s eyes fluttered closed, her breathing steady. But in a few moments, her face contorted, and her breathing grew shallow and labored, as if struggling against an unseen force. The room became charged with energy as Lora pushed deeper into Bella’s mind, pulling at the threads of dark magic that entangled her memories.
Bella let out a piercing scream, one so raw that it seemed to echo off every corner of the room. Asher, watching in horror, sprang forward, his instincts driving him to her side. He
