Eternal Promise: (The Cursed Series, Book 5)

you, Ivy.”
She nodded. “When you’re ready to conceive, you both need to drink the entire vial. You might feel a little dizzy at first, but that’s normal. It shouldn’t last more than a couple minutes. The effects of the potion will wear off after seventy-two hours, so I suggest you two make the most of that time.”
My face heated with embarrassment, but I nodded along, absorbing her instructions.
“Isach adamantly refused to include any sort of time limit for conception in the blood oath, but I assume you won’t be taking too long?” She clasped her hands in front of her and raised a perfectly arched brow.
“No,” I said.
Trent and I hadn’t talked about when, but we’d have to now. I didn’t want to wait too long, but I didn’t want to rush into it, either.
“Very well.” She nodded. “I don’t plan to go anywhere. I gave you my word I’d stick around to help keep an eye on you.” She looked directly at me. “But nevertheless, Isach has agreed to keep me updated on your progress.”
I sliced a look at Isach. His face was pale, and his eyelids were droopy. Had Ivy done something to him while Trent and I weren’t in the room?
I rushed to Isach’s side. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah. Using that kind of magic drains me. I’ll be fine.” Isach smiled, but I had a sinking feeling he was lying to me.
“Are we done here?” Trent asked, and the ever-present calmness that had been in his tone since we arrived was gone.
“Yes. I’ll be seeing all of you soon, I hope.” She smiled sweetly, then disappeared into the back room.
“Let’s get out of here,” Trent said. He helped Isach outside, and by the time we reached his car, there was more color in Isach’s complexion, and his steps were steadier.
“Thank you. For everything.” I flung my arms around Isach. “Just give Abby a bit more time. She’ll come around.”
He hugged me back briefly. “Thanks. I’m going to go see her now.”
I climbed into Trent’s truck, and he handed me the two vials. I cradled them carefully in my hands and stared down at them. Extreme joy rose up in me, and a smile stretched across my face. I literally held my greatest dream in my hand, and my future sat beside me.

CHAPTER SIX:
It’s My Life
“GIRLS! DINNER,” AUNT BETH SHOUTED.
As if on cue, my stomach rumbled. I closed my laptop, rubbed my eyes, then left my room. Abby was in the hall waiting for me.
“Hey,” I said, surprised to see her.
Last I knew, she’d been with Isach. When had she gotten home? Her eyes were red, and her hair was a frizzy mess. She looked exhausted.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
“Isach said there’s still stuff I don’t know.” She heaved a sigh. “What else could he possibly have to tell me? That Santa Claus is a werewolf? Or maybe the Tooth Fairy is really the boogeyman.”
I laughed, though there was nothing funny about any of this. I had to assume Isach was preparing to tell her the truth about their past relationship.
“Do you know what he has to tell me?” she asked.
Averting my gaze, I headed downstairs. No way was I going to tell her what I knew. I couldn’t. Isach needed to be the one to tell her, and then I’d talk to her, answer whatever questions she had.
Abby caught up to me at the bottom of the stairs and clutched my arm. “If you know, you have to tell me,” she said insistently.
“I can’t,” I said, my tone sympathetic. “This is something Isach has to tell you.”
“Is it bad?” she asked, her bottom lip trembling. “Like, he’s not going to break up with me, is he? I mean, I still have no idea how I feel about everything, but how can I figure it out if he dumps me?”
“He’s not going to break up with you,” I said, careful to avoid answering her other question. My phone buzzed, and I pulled it from my back pocket.
Isach: I’M TELLING HER TOMORROW AFTER SCHOOL. TRENT WILL BE THERE TO GIVE BACK HER MEMORIES. CAN YOU COME, TOO?
I took a deep breath, my stomach knotting. Suddenly, I was no longer hungry. I’d assumed this was what he was going to tell her, but now I knew for sure, and I hated that Abby was going to have to deal with this on top of everything else.
Me: YES.
Slipping my phone back into my pocket, I looped my arm through Abby’s. “It’s going to be okay. I promise,” I said.
We walked into the dining room. Aunt Beth and Uncle Dean were putting dinner on the table. Grilled steak and baked potatoes with mixed vegetables was on tonight’s menu.
Uncle Dean whispered something in Aunt Beth’s ear, and she giggled. He kissed her cheek, and in that small moment, their love was on full display. I hoped Trent and I would have a happy marriage like they did. I pulled out my chair and sat, and Abby did the same.
“Are you getting sick?” Aunt Beth asked, staring at Abby with concern.
Abby shook her head. “I’m fine.”
“How was school today?” Uncle Dean asked as he set a slab of steak on his plate and cut into it.
“Good,” I said. “We’re getting assigned all our final projects, which means we’ll be buried in homework for the next couple of months.”
“I can’t believe you two are so close to graduating.” Aunt Beth shook her head, and I half expected her to start crying. Thankfully, she didn’t.
“Speaking of…” Uncle Dean cleared his throat. “How are those college applications coming along?” His gaze lingered on Abby, then shifted to me.
Abby sliced me a knowing look—she’d been lying to them about applying to colleges, and I simply hadn’t done it. Neither of us had had the courage to tell them that, but we couldn’t exactly avoid it any longer.
“I’m waiting to hear back about my applications,” Abby said. She plopped a glob of butter on her potato. “Emails should be coming