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.

mother was a coward. Since she couldn't find a direct way to end her creation, whom she feared so intensely, she chose an indirect method, which was sure to work," he said. Staying out of my mind was the best thing I could do for the sake of

curse that remained hidden for years and even now, my brothers

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

Why was Asher there?

was he until

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

mother's knowledge and now her memories...

unreadable eyes. I couldn't tell if he genuinely wanted me to

gulp, I blinked fast, lowering

it into words. Clenching my

my throat closed up, but I pushed

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

still you choose the one that's convenient for you," he said

into my palm, biting into my

I can't choose what's convenient for me, love. And I can't let you, my wife, choose what's less painful for you. Do you know why?" he asked, his voice

nodded, trying to bite

I said, my voice trembling as I looked into his eyes through my misty gaze. "You need strong heirs for the

pressing down on me

since the Infernal Realm came into existence," Asher said, his gaze falling to his hand as if it carried the weight of that

slightly, a shadow of tension

And I provide it with just enough of myself to maintain that balance. But there are some things I

met mine, sharp and

mean disorder. It means disorder on a scale that can tear the three realms apart

his words hung between us, a truth too

on

he could see right through me. "Illegitimate children won't work either. I've tested it with

or something darker. But for the first time,

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

hell, everything would

dreaded clawed their way out of me. "The only way left... is to block the curse. Offspring from the forbidden union of a

the next words slipping out as

"O-our kids..."

denial, for reassurance, for anything that might undo

he said, and a horrifying chill ran down

words settled like an excruciating knot in my

only to lose

I choked it

to die..." I said, holding

"Yes..." he said.

stomach churn violently, a wave of

only to destroy it?" I questioned him, tilting my head as I stepped

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

averted my gaze, clenching my

an atmosphere of hatred would humble you. Maybe that's why she conceived you from an affair with your father - to make sure

gritted my teeth, quickly wiping off my

were her daughter. In trying to heal her 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

looked at him, tears

what you

curse. Even if it doesn't end with us, it'll end with them," he said

doesn't solve

know," he said. "The kids will be weak. While they wouldn't feed the curse, they wouldn't be heirs strong enough

detachment in his voice made me shudder. It was as though he spoke of a mere strategy,