Offered to the Triplet Alphas

Chapter-103. Responsibilities

[Xanthea]

All the information about the generational curses in my mother's knowledge and memories flooded my mind.

My eyes leafed through the pages of the books and diaries.

"Generational curses feed on the existence of the affected immortal. The stronger the immortal it consumes, the more malignant and deadlier it gets." I thought out loud. "Spreading through the bloodline, it spares no direct legitimate lineage..."

I looked at Asher, no longer plagued by questions, but haunted by the answers and an unsettling realization.

'Your demon husbands are going down very soon, and I'll make sure it happens faster.' Nikolai's threat wasn't empty.

Did he know about the demon lord's curse?

"Your pack knows about your curse?" I asked hesitantly.

Asher shook his head.

"No. Only a few people know about it - our family and a handful of celestials," he said gravely. "But the celestials have planned to use mortals to catalyze the curse and end us sooner. And the mortal they've chosen to execute their plan is your brother, Nikolai."

I widened my eyes, shaking my head. "No... why him?"

"I don't know... yet..." he said.

"No. No. No!" I looked around the fog frantically. "There has to be more. I need more of her memories. After everything she did, she can't do this to you! To Ezra! No!"

I reached out, my fingers trembling as I tried to touch the clouds, desperately searching for fragments of memories that could guide me - anything to show me the path to cure the curse. But no matter how hard I clawed at the haze, there was nothing. Just an endless expanse of white, blank fog that swallowed every flicker of hope.

"There has to be more..."

Asher's hands held mine in a firm yet achingly gentle grip as he lowered them.

"Xanthea," he said, his voice low, almost pleading. "Stop."

"No!" I thrashed against his grip, but he didn't let go. His thumbs slowly caressed my knuckles to calm me.

"This is the end of her memories for you," he murmured, leaning closer until I could feel the heat of his breath against my skin.

"It can't be!" My voice broke as I shook my head, tears blurring my vision. "S-she can't do this! She can't-" I gritted my teeth, hatred and anger flowing in my veins like venom. "I need more - I have to fix this!"

"Xanthea..." His tone softened, and he stepped closer, closing the space between us. "We'll fix this... together."

I took back my hands from him. "How can you be so calm? Why are you so gentle with me when I don't even deserve it?"

"I will not allow you to hate yourself." Asher's tone turned grim as he glared at the self-loathing and guilt that disgusted me from within.

Asher contemplated me, his eyes gleaming with emotions I failed to fathom amidst my own.

I frowned, lowering my gaze, my heart pounding painfully as waves of shame and confusion crashed over me.

"Don't you?" I asked, holding his gaze.

Asher lowered his head, a strange mixture of a sigh and a smile playing on his lips.

He gave me enough time to settle myself down before he changed the subject.

was sure to work," he said. Staying out of my mind was the best thing I could do for the sake of my

A curse that remained hidden for years and even now, my brothers know nothing

there when she cursed my father," Asher said, and a million new questions

Why was Asher there?

was he

aside, I asked the one that had occupied my mind the most. "Is-is there a way to stop the

your mother's knowledge and

at me with his unreadable eyes. I couldn't tell if he

nervous gulp, I blinked fast, lowering my

the answer, but I didn't want to put it into words. Clenching my clammy palms into fists, I

can avoid its spread by..." my throat closed up, but I pushed

gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that made the air between

still you choose the one that's

into my skin as I tightened

my wife, choose what's less painful for you. Do

to bite back my

heirs," I said, my voice trembling as I looked

of his silence pressing down on me like

since the Infernal Realm came into existence," Asher

a

with just enough of myself to maintain that balance. But there are some things

eyes met mine,

rogue pack doesn't just mean disorder. It means disorder on a scale that can

hung between us, a

thoughts staggering on the edge of my tongue, but

his eyes narrowing as if he could see right through me.

flickered in his eyes. I couldn't tell if it was exhaustion or something darker. But for the first time, I truly felt the weight of the burdens Asher had been carrying

throne rejects him. Every time he tries to sit on it, the throne nearly tears him apart - even with me present." His words slowed

hell,

to block the curse. Offspring from the forbidden union of a mortal and an

the next words slipping

"O-our kids..."

- for denial, for reassurance, for

and a horrifying chill ran

an excruciating knot in my chest, so heavy I could barely

to lose them

way up my throat, but I choked

kids who'd be born to die..." I said, holding his

"Yes..." he said.

a wave of nausea rising in

him, tilting my head as I stepped closer to

mother created you, only to be destroyed by us, for us. She created a fate for you... no mother would ever want

averted my gaze,

humble you. Maybe that's why she conceived you from an affair with your father - to make sure you bore the weight of her choices." 'Your mother was a horrible woman!' Luna Meesa's words rang in

quickly wiping off my tears,

victims, she created her biggest victim - you. She probably only realized this when she understood motherhood. I hope she resented herself, repented day and night for forgiveness and peace in her final days, and I hope she never found it - not even from

at him, tears burning in

is that any different from what you want to do to our kids?" I

the curse. Even if it doesn't end with us, it'll end with

still doesn't solve

weak. While they wouldn't feed the curse, they wouldn't be heirs strong enough

made me shudder. It was as though he spoke of a mere strategy, not the lives we