Chapter 233

Ava’s POV

What do you even say at your best friend's burial? I couldn't form the words, not from grief, but because my brain was preoccupied with planning the murder of said best friend—the one who'd put me in this predicament. Because of her, I was stuck replaying words that had derailed a fraction of my brain for a full minute: "Congratulations, you're having twins."

Twins. That was another entire human being on top of the one I'd barely grasped. I'd been certain—absolutely, unequivocally certain—there was only one baby. But Isabella, in typical Isabella fashion, had to open her mouth. She had to inject some ridiculous comment into the universe, and somehow, as if she willed it, a second baby appeared.

Logically, I knew that's not how biology worked. But still, I blamed her.

The car ride from the hospital was silent, tense, heavy. Now, we sat across from each other in a restaurant, untouched plates before us, the air thick with unspoken words. The restaurant was warm, a low hum of conversation surrounding us, but I felt cold. My mind hadn't stopped spinning since the doctor announced twins.

Seven minutes. That's how long it took Isabella to speak.

"I didn't put two children in you, Lilian," she said carefully, testing the waters.

I glared, gripping my fork so tightly it might snap. "I told you not to talk to me."

She huffed and rolled her eyes. "Not another word."

A beat of silence, then, "I mean, technically, the father is the one who—"

My hand slammed on the table, startling nearby diners. Isabella burst into laughter, completely unfazed. I glared harder.

"I hate you," I muttered.

"No, you don't," she smirked, propping her chin on her hand. "But you do owe me for manifesting the second baby. I think I want naming rights."

I threw a sugar packet at her. She dodged, still laughing, and I chuckled, rubbing my temples. I shouldn't be laughing. I had far bigger problems.

Grayson and I had sort of reconciled, but things were far from okay. My mother had dropped a bombshell: Damien planned to siphon my essence—which is why he was in Italy, seeking the only person powerful enough to perform the spell: a High Priestess, a woman said to be touched by the Moon Goddess, rumored to be somewhere nearby. Grayson and my mother—an alliance I never expected—were tracking her down before Damien did. Meanwhile, I was told to get a checkup. As if a routine visit could fix the fact that my unborn children and I were walking targets. Grayson, overcompensating for kicking me out, had assigned an army of security—and tripled their numbers. But deep down, I knew if Damien wanted to strike, he would. And he wouldn't miss.

"Remember how we always planned on coming here together?" Isabella sighed, breaking my thoughts. "We were supposed to just exist, you know? No drama, no curses, no imminent death threats."

I sighed. "I think it was Paris, actually. And if I remember correctly, you were going to ditch me to fall in love."

She glared. "Do you have to remember every little detail, Ava?"

I gave her a look. "Not my fault my brain is brilliant, Isabella."

She rolled her eyes. "Italy, Paris, whatever. The point is, why can't we just be here shopping? Or lounging by some expensive pool, drinking fruity cocktails? Why is someone always in mortal danger?"

"If I knew, Bels," I sighed, "I'd be at that pool with you. But hey, at least you should be excited—Rickon's coming soon."

She frowned, pushing her food around. "Yeah, about that…"

I raised a brow. "What?"

She hesitated. "We're in a weird place. I said I liked him taking things seriously, but he's too serious. I miss when he was trying to win me over, sending ridiculous messages. He's just…different. It's weird."

I smirked. "You miss him being like Ricardo, thinking everything's a joke?"

"I miss him being Rickon. Ricardo's just plain mad. By the way, have you noticed how he's been staring at Elaine?"

"I thought I was the only one! But you have to admit, her telling everyone off was quite the moment." I nudged her. "We should eat. I need to be back before my father and Maria arrive. I have to tell her about the spell. If we can figure this out, we can finally end this curse."

Isabella didn't answer. She stared, her expression unreadable.

"So…things are good with you two again?"

I sighed, pushing my plate away. "They will be. I hope. I just…" I ran a hand through my hair. "I just want this chaos, this drama, to end."

Her gaze softened. "I know."

Silence stretched between us, this time more comfortable. I wanted to believe everything would be okay. That we'd break the curse. That my children would be safe. But the truth was, I didn't know.

Suddenly, a mind touched mine, an unwanted tug that made my wolf growl. It was a forceful presence, insistent but not overwhelming. My instincts screamed to reject the connection, but I opened the mental link—stubborn, curious, and needing to know.

Her voice was a whisper, an echo. I knew it before she spoke: Crystal.

'Hello, sister.'

I sighed inwardly. 'Whatever you want, Crystal, get to it.'

Her laugh was light, mocking, infuriating. 'So much for wanting to get to know each other. So much hostility. It saddens me my own twin sister dislikes me. Come on, Ava, we're family. Do you not understand the bond we share? Twins—'

I cut her off. 'If you don't get to the point, I'm closing the link.'

A pause, then, 'Fine,' she said, her mental presence settling above me like a cloud. 'Damien had a plan when he thought I was the powerful twin. He planned to keep me away from Grayson so we wouldn't bond, and the curse would destroy him. When Grayson dies, he planned to take the throne, with the most powerful wolf at his side. But now that's you, and you're too goody-two-shoes, he plans to siphon the power back into me. By the way, way to steal my thunder, sister.'

Her amusement fueled my frustration. I wanted to lash out, but I needed answers.

'And you're telling me this because?' My voice dripped with disdain.

She laughed again. 'Because I'm bored and getting my nails done. I figured I'd reach out to my darling little sister. I'm older, by the way. By ten seconds.'

'No,' I growled, my wolf taking over. 'What you are is a plain old bitch. Now get out of my head.'

I started to slam the mental door but stopped to confirm something. 'Does Dylan know about all of this?'

Her amusement faltered. It was subtle, but there—like a shadow. "No, he doesn't, and you had better—"

I didn't wait. With a snarl, I slammed the mental door shut. Hard.

"Okay, what just happened?" Isabella's voice broke through the storm in my mind.

I took a breath. "It was Crystal. Come on, we need to go."

"Where?" she asked, confused, but I saw concern in her eyes.

I paused. It was a decision I knew I'd regret. "There are a lot of devil spawns walking the earth," I whispered, "I need to go make a deal with the one I hate the most."