Aurelia closed her eyes briefly.
"Father left her in charge of your care after he exhausted every method he could think of to reverse the curse."
A bitter laugh escaped Aldric.
"Or perhaps," he muttered darkly, "he simply gave up once his precious experiment failed."
Aurelia said nothing.
"I tried to reach you," Aldric continued. "So did Gwen. Repeatedly." His jaw clenched.
"But the Crimson Guards obeyed only Father's commands. Without his permission, we could do nothing."
Aurelia slowly sat back down.
"And the entire year I cannot remember…" she whispered, almost to herself. "Was the same year I was isolated."
Their eyes met. And suddenly the direction of their thoughts became horrifyingly clear.
Aldric's expression shifted immediately.
"No," he said sharply. "No."
Aurelia's throat tightened.
"Aldric—"
"You cannot possibly be suggesting what I think you are."
Her silence only made him more alarmed.
