Chapter 1

I am the last descendant of the Appalachian Hoodoo Seers. Marrying me is the only way to break the darkest blood curses.

In my past life, the Sterling family was haunted by a lethal hex. Eight brides had died before they even reached the altar.

They somehow got their hands on my late grandfather's silver talisman and used it to blackmail me into marrying Silas Sterling.

I broke the curse for them. The Sterlings treated me like royalty, and Silas worshipped the ground I walked on for three years.

But when I was heavily pregnant and about to give birth, Silas dragged me to a desolate ridge and stripped me bare.

I begged him to save our child.

He only looked at me with cold, murderous eyes.

"Why would I want a bastard child from a manipulative witch like you?" he spat.

"If you hadn't lied about that stupid curse, Mara would never have gone into those dangerous woods to find a cure. She wouldn't have been bitten by that snake!"

"She was pregnant. She was supposed to be my wife the very next day. You killed her!"

"You call yourself a Seer? Then go see her in hell!"

I was left there to be torn apart by wolves and vultures.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day the Sterlings showed up at my door with the talisman.

I looked at them coldly and said, "My grandfather has been dead for years. His promises died with him."

1

Seeing me refuse, Silas stepped forward, his face full of impatience.

"Dad! Look at her. She knows she's a fraud!" he shouted.

"This whole curse thing is just a story she made up to trap us!"

"Shut your mouth! Apologize to Miss Elara right now!"

Silas's father, Arthur Sterling, looked mortified as he tried to force Silas to bow.

"I am so sorry, Miss Elara. Silas has been living in the city far too long. He doesn't understand our ways."

But Silas wouldn't back down. "Dad, she's a con artist!"

Arthur ignored him. His aged face was etched with agony as he turned back to me.

"Miss Elara, please. Break this curse and save my family."

"I can't let the Sterling bloodline end with Silas. He's all I have left."

Silas grew even more frantic.

"There is no damn curse! Mara is already pregnant with my child!"

Arthur froze, his eyes wide with shock.

"But if the curse isn't broken..."

He tried to argue, but I cut him off.

"Since Mr. Silas is so confident, Mr. Sterling, please leave my house."

Silas smirked at me. "At least you know when you're beat."

I didn't say a word. I just watched his face.

The lines around his eyes were dark and hollow. His fate hadn't changed.

In this life, as in the last, he was destined never to have a living heir.

In my previous life, I had used every ounce of my power to rewrite his destiny.

It cost me my health and my soul to clear the Sterling name.

I only managed to conceive because they pumped me full of expensive supplements to keep my body from failing.

I never realized Silas blamed me for Mara Vance's death every single day we were married.

He thought the curse was a lie I used to climb into his bed.

But it was Mara's own greed that led her into those woods. She wanted to prove she was the 'one' by finding a cure herself.

I suppressed the white-hot rage in my chest.

In this life, I didn't care if the Sterlings went extinct.

I was done playing part in their twisted drama.

After they left, I went to shut the door.

A frail, elderly woman rushed forward and blocked my way.

"Miss Elara, please wait!"

She collapsed to her knees in the dirt.

"Please save my grandson. He's dying!"

"I'll give you everything the Blackwood family owns. Just save him!"

I looked at the thick, black fog swirling around her face and sighed.

But I was tired. I didn't want to get involved in anyone else's blood debts.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. Please go home."

"I've hung up my charms. I'm out of the business."