Page 102 of The Bones of the Cursed

Seriously though, fuck this old bitch.

Her eyes flare red, fire igniting at her fingertips. She may be powerful because she’s been around for centuries honing her magic, but I have raw power coursing through my veins thanks to my father. The small amount of training has helped; I’ve worked for hours on learning to wield and control it, the more I practice the better I will get.

So far, I’ve learned sadness lets me use ice. Anger links to wind. Frustration is tied to fire and nervousness to earth. I wonder what would happen if I let my overwhelming feelings of loneliness and betrayal take over my system. I let the memories flow through my mind, every person to ever leave or abandon me. All the death I’ve encountered.

I feel my power like a liquid heat running rampant through me. Malakai and Kailu both stand, preparing to defend me. But I don’t need them to save me.

I learned long ago that I can only depend on myself, and no matter how much I love them, I will never depend entirely on either to keep me alive. They all need to know I’m strong enough to fend for myself.

Before anyone can make a move, and before that old bitch can release her powers, I take a deep breath and close my eyes. I filter every memory into my powers. And when I thrust my hands out, a giant gust of wind throws her back, trapping her against the wall. I dive into my emotions further, letting them all bubble to the surface. Ice shoots from my fingers, the shards pinning her to the wall by her dress. A liquid heat builds in my body, sliding down my arms and into my hands. Water encapsulates her, essentially drowning her on dry land.

Her eyes are wide, her fear slithering through the room like a living entity. She gulps for air, not able to take a full breath before more water suffocates her.

I count in my head, waiting for the perfect moment. My bodythrums in anticipation. I lock eyes with the king, and he nods. It’s such a small movement that I almost miss it.

He’s helping me, letting me know that the matriarch has had enough. I never did learn what the king’s powers were, but now I can see it. He has some type of illusionary magic. The matriarch’s psychic now sits in such a still, trancelike state that she must be under some type of power or hallucination to not attempt to intervene.

I drop my hands, letting the water splash to the floor in a waterfall. The matriarch falls to her knees, gasping for breath. She turns panicked eyes to me.

I give her a small smile. “I was expecting so much more from the matriarch of the strongest coven. I think maybe it’smewho should be disappointed inyou.” I walk closer and kneel so we’re eye level. “Don’t insult people you don’t know. It’s rude.”

With that I leave the room, exhausted from the exertion of power and the emotional face-off with my grandmother. I head to the bedroom I share with Malakai and Kailu. Mal moved us in a few nights ago and has made it clear I am never allowed to leave it, unless we are staying at his home in town. I sit on the edge of the bed, quickly scrawling a note to my father.

I am just heading back up the stairs after sending it through messenger when a figure slams me up against the wall.

39

- KAILU -

UNFOLDING SECRETS

Iwait while the matriarch pulls herself together. The king stands to the back of the room, not saying a word. I saw the brief moment between him and Alanis. I was so baffled by the force behind her magic, I almost missed the little interaction. If I’m not mistaken, our king helped during her water torture of her grandmother. My chest swelled with pride, the emotion clear on the king and Malakai’s face as well.

Her strength is that of a queen. Gods, she is something else.

I’m about to head to the bar when I catch my little sunshine climbing the final set of stairs. Sprinting up the steps, I turn her and push her back against the wall. Her eyes are wide, her breath comes in pants. Not in fear, though.

No, I can smell her.

She knew it was me the second I touched her, I have no doubt.

I cover her mouth with one hand, her eyes growing heavy.

Sliding my hand into her pants, I feel just how wet she is. I tease her with my fingers, making her whimper and rock her hips into my hand. The hallway is silent save for the sound of her heavy pants. I move my hand slightly, cupping her jaw and sliding my thumb into her mouth. She sucks on it, making all theblood in my body rush south. My cock is so painfully hard that I have to think about anything else other than the woman in front of me.

I remove my hand, intending to take her back to our room and drive her insane with my tongue, but my little Witch has other plans. She drops to her knees, making quick work of the buckle on my trousers. The sight makes my heart stutter.

She licks her palm and drags her hand up and down my length, bringing goosebumps to my arms, making me slap one palm to the wall to keep myself upright. Her tongue licks up the underside of my shaft, stopping at the tip to lick up the moisture beading there. I grasp her hair with my free hand, and when she opens her mouth, I can’t hold back. I thrust all the way to the back of her throat, making her gag.

I pull back, guilt swarming my mind. I went too far, too rough.

She digs her nails into my ass, forcing me to stop my retreat. I look down into her eyes. The only thing I see is lust.

She guides me into her mouth and doesn’t stop until I’m in the back of her throat. I groan. Gods, this woman will be the death of me.

She pulls all the way off, her lips making a popping sound. I almost whine at the loss of her mouth on me.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, pushing her hair out of her face.

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