Chapter 74 - The Comfort of Knowledge

Alaric knows that he can't wipe the mark of a beloved soul off of Lenore's arm, but he also knows that he can prepare himself better this time. He's learned how much weight this mark can hold and how deadly it can become when people are desperate and willing to abandon their morals for the sake of salvation. While he's certain he's read these books before, it feels like he's seeing the information in them for the first time. Not because he hadn't loved Elyria enough to learn about the mark that made her a symbol for the empire's prestige. No, it was never a question of love. But at that time, it was a matter of curiosity. He couldn't imagine that the mark of a beloved soul—something meant to be pure and divine—would be the very thing that led to her death.