Chapter 166

Aria’s POV

“What do you want?” I demanded. My hands were shaking, but I forced myself to stand straighter. “Why are you here?”

Agnes turned her full attention to me, and the darkness in her eyes almost made my knees weak. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m here to finish what I started.”

She gestured to Knox. “My curse was meant to destroy him slowly. Make him suffer. Make him lose everything he loved before finally destroying him completely. But you...” Her eyes narrowed. “You’ve been fighting it, trying to save him, trying to break my beautiful work.”

“He doesn’t deserve this,” I said. “Whatever he did to you—”

“Whatever he did?” Agnes’s voice rose, sharp and cutting. “He stabbed me with a stake! I didn't deserve to die!”

She took a breath, composing herself. “S