Day ten.
Twenty days left.
Rhys woke to shouting outside.
He bolted from bed, ran to the window, and saw something impossible:
A black Range Rover parked in the front drive.
Someone had gotten past the barrier.
Someone was here.
Rhys ran downstairs, hope surging. Maybe it was Brother Ignatius. Maybe the police, finally investigating—
He threw open the front door.
A man stood there—tall, broad-shouldered, early thirties, with dark hair and sharp gray eyes. He wore an expensive suit and carried a briefcase, looking every inch the corporate lawyer.
And he was arguing with thin air.
"—don't give a damn about your territorial claims," the man was saying to nothing. "This property was illegally sold. My client has documentation proving—"
He stopped mid-sentence when he saw Rhys.
"Finally. Rhys Castor, I presume?" The man strode forward, hand extended. "Liam Blackwood. We need to talk about your recent real estate purchase."
Rhys stared at the extended hand.
Blackwood.
Cassian Blackwood.
"Oh my God," Rhys breathed. "It's you."
Liam's professional smile faltered. "I'm sorry?"
Before Rhys could answer, the temperature dropped twenty degrees. Frost crept across the windows.
And Pryce materialized between them, eyes pure black, expression murderous.
"You," he snarled. "You dare show your face here again?"
Liam's eyes widened—because he could see Pryce. Actually see him.
"Valerian?" Liam whispered.
"GET OUT!" Pryce's shout was accompanied by a blast of supernatural force that sent Liam stumbling backward.
"Pryce, don't—" Rhys started.
But Pryce was past hearing. His form was changing, becoming less human, more monstrous—the curse fully awakened by the return of his ancient rival.
"I killed you once, Cassian," Pryce growled. "I'll do it again. And again. As many times as it takes for you to understand: she's mine."
"He's not Cassian!" Rhys shouted. "He's Liam! This is a different life—"
But Pryce launched himself at Liam with inhuman speed.
And suddenly, Rhys understood:
The curse wasn't just about possessing him.
It was about eliminating anyone who threatened that possession.
And Cassian—reborn as Liam—had just walked straight into three hundred years of accumulated rage.
This wasn't going to end well.
[To be continued...]