Chapter 573: The Curse Between the Lines
The office was warm.
Annabeth sat across from the desk, Ronan beside her, both of them facing Orion and Sophia on the other side.
Annabeth's hands rested loosely in her lap. She had composed herself fully since the incident outside. Whatever the exchange had been, it was behind her now.
She looked at Orion first, then at Sophia.
"The plague," she said. "The one your pack was trying to get information about."
Orion leaned back slightly in his chair. "What about it?"
"I have information," Annabeth said. "It's not much, but I think it'll help."
Ronan straightened. "Okay?"
Annabeth exhaled slowly. "First things first, the 'plague,'" she said, using air quotes. "Isn't a plague."
The room was quiet for a beat.
"It presents like one," she continued. "Spreads like one. Acts like one, but it isn't one. People assume it's one because of how fast it moves through communities."
"It's man-made—or in this instance, woman-made—with black magic."
