Chapter 198 PIPER The relic glowed under the dim light that managed to sieve .


    through the thick canopy .


    There was something different about its glow , like it was some living thing which breathed power and danger .


    I knelt before it , my fingers hovering over its rough surface .


    Warricks voice cut through the stillness , sharp and angry .


    Piper , dont .


    You dont know what that thing will do .


    looked at him , his face a mask of concern and frustration .


    And if I dont do something , what happens then ? Auroras drowning , Trajans capture , Danes gone tell me , Warrick , what happens if I just stand by ? He moved closer , his hand reaching out to stop me , it seemed .


    We dont even know what it is .


    What if you make things worse ? I spun back to the relic , my jaw clenching .


    Worse than this ? Ill take my chances .


    Piper .


    His voice gentled , almost pleading now .


    This isnt the way .


    I faced him fully now , anger boiling over .


    And what is ? Hiding ? Chapter 198 Waiting ? Watching everyone around us suffer while we do nothing ? 2/7 His eyes searched for mine , and for a moment , I saw something unguarded there fear , perhaps .


    Not of himself , but of me .


    Im trying to protect you .


    I faltered .


    My determination stopped for one heartbeat .


    Then I turned back to the relic .


    I dont need your protection , Warrick .


    Before he could say another word , Iid my hand on the relic .


    In an instant , the air moved around me , thick and electric .


    The glowing from the relic brightened as its face rippled , like water into which someone had thrown a stone .


    My ears whined with the low noise that grew louder by the second .


    My heart thundered against my ribs , its rhythm matching the pulsing of the relics light .


    Piper , stop ! Warrick yelled ,unching himself toward me .


    But it was toote .


    A sudden , sharp pain shot through my hand and I cried out , trying to pull away .


    My hand was stuck , as if it had fused to the relic .


    Warrick grabbed my arm , trying to yank me back , but some energy from the relicshed out and sent him sprawling backward .


    Chapter 198 Piper ! he yelled , his voice filled with panic .


    3 // 7 I couldnt say .


    The artifacts power roared through me , wilnd endless , filling my every inch .


    Visions came at me shing fast , weird symbols , weird shadows , and then Warrick .


    I gasped as something clicked into ce inside , an unseen line connecting us .


    Warrick clutched at his chest , twisted in pain .


    Whats going on ? he said , fighting to his feet .


    The glow of the artifact stopped and my hand was released .


    I stumbled backward , clutching my chest as a strange sensation flowered there it was like a second heart , steady and unyielding .


    I turned to Warrick , who stared back at me , his face a mix of confusion and horror .


    I … I feel you , he whispered .


    I nodded , unable even to speak as it dawned on me .


    We were .


    connected .


    Something the relic had done was binding them in a very personal and overwhelming way .


    What have you done ? Warrick shouted , his voice rising .


    What just happened , Piper ? I didnt mean to , I said , my voice shaking .


    I just … Chapter 198 4/7 You just couldnt listen ! he snarled ; the anger burst out .


    I told you not to touch it , and look at us now ! I was trying to help ! I erupted .


    You think I wanted this ? He opened his mouth to respond , but his face suddenly paled .


    He clutched at his chest again , and I felt it a sharp , stabbing pain , like a knife twisting inside me .


    I doubled over , gasping .


    What … what is this ? I managed to get out , my voice barely above a whisper .


    Warrick winced , his breathing short and ragged .


    The relic … its cursed .


    It felt like I had been punched in the stomach .


    The relic , which had bound them to each other , also actually put a curse on them .


    We stumbled back to the clearing , every step an effort .


    The bond between us was always there , tugging and twisting through my head in ways that seemed to make it spin .


    When we finally reached the edge of the forest , Warrick fell to the earth , white faced , dripping in sweat .


    I sat down beside him , still clutching the relic in my hands , its glow hypnotic , now a reminder of how wrong I had been .


    We gotta figure out how to break this , I said , shaking .


    Warrickughed darkly , throwing his head back against a tree .


    You think ? But how , Piper ? You have some kind of magic .


    Chapter 198 guidebook I dont know about ? 5/7 I tried to ignore the sarcasm , my mind racing .


    There has to be a way .


    Maybe the symbols I saw- Symbols ? he interrupted , eyes narrowing .


    What symbols ? I swallowed hard and plunged into a description of the cryptic symbol shes that had crossed my mind when Id touched the relic .


    Again , Warricks face changed , frustration melting into something else hope , perhaps .


    Ive seen those symbols before , he said slowly .


    In one of the Nameless tombs .


    Do you remember what they mean ? I asked urgently He shook his head .


    Not all of them .


    But one … it represented severance .


    Severance , I whispered , rolling the word over in my mouth .


    Warrick nodded gravely .


    If we can understand the rest of the symbols , maybe we can figure out how to break this bond .


    Where do we start ? I asked , desperation clear in my voice .


    He nodded toward the relic .


    The answers are probably in there .


    But figuring them out wont be easy .


    Chapter 198 We spent hours poring over this relic , which literally almost seemed to move and change on its surface as we did so .


    The symbols were at once the same ; their meaningy deep .


    beneath theyered meanings of cryptic design .


    Warrick and I worked in tense silence ; our bond was a real reminder that the stakes were constantly high .


    6/7 Every time one or the other of us had a frustrating or impatient .


    feeling , it would react through a wave of difort in both .


    Finally , after what felt like eternity , I found something to say a pattern in the symbols , a repeating sequence with every few rotations the relic went through .


    Warrick , look , I said , pointing to the symbols .


    Its a cycle .


    He leaned closer , his brow furrowing .


    Youre right .


    Its like … a lock .


    And this is the key .


    We had the sequence now , fitted together ; ourbined efforts slowly unraveling the secrets of the relic .


    But the more we unraveled , the more a chilling realization began to take shape .


    To break the curse , Warrick said , his voice low , we have to sever the bond .


    I nodded , my throat clenching .


    But how ? He hesitated , then his gaze met mine .