Page 115 of The Bones of the Cursed

“Yes, yes. All good, you read the prophecy correctly, but what about Alanis?”

“She sacrificed herself. The Gods and Goddesses came together to perform the sacrifice. Ripping her soul from her body.”

“Yes. All well and good, but where is Alanisnow?”

Viros finally answers, thank the Gods, because my confusion is overwhelming me. “My daughter is laying there. Dead.” He points to her body on the wagon.

The Fates hiss. “What do you mean dead? Her soul was never supposed to stray far from her body. When she willingly chose to die for this realm, she sacrificed the one thing she had always wanted. A family. The instant her soul left her body, that would have been fulfilled. Her soul should have returned to her shortly after her full magic was unleashed. Her sacrifice was made with pure intentions, and thus only something so pure could overcome such evil.”

I feel as if I’ve been punched in the gut. “What would have happened if Iclas completed his end of the prophecy?”

The quiet Fate who has yet to speak finally opens her mouth, her voice just above a whisper: “Prophecies must have two outcomes. Good and Evil go hand in hand. Both outcomes must be an option, as one never knows what the individual’s decisions will change. With how strong Alanis’s bloodline was and the visions we received, Iclas only ever had a small chance of completing his side of the prophecy. If he would have managed, then the world would be thrown into chaos, and eventually end.”

I laugh. I laugh so hard that tears leak down my face. These fucking Fates. “Alanis’s soul didn’t return to her body. FuckingIclas used a dark Witch to curse her. She’s holding her soul in some type of shield. They plan to put her soul into another body for Iclas to complete his side of the prophecy. They have the body. I am going to lose her if we don’t get her back.”

The Fates look between each other. The rings on their fingers glow red, causing even Ames to take a step backward.

“Iclas used dark magic to disregard the prophecy that was already fulfilled,” the Fates say as one, their voices ringing out in unison that sends a chill into my very soul. “Ourprophecy. The one we entwined and spent so many days and weeks perfecting. He has made a laughing stock of us!”

Their anger makes the hairs on my arms to stand on end. “Will you help us get Alanis back? Please?” I am not above begging.

“We do not take kindly to those who use dark magic to find loopholes. We do not take kindly to those who cheat the system. Alanis fulfilled the prophecy, so to us it is finished and he has cheated. He should have died centuries ago; he was simply lucky his Fate changed when his mating bond took place. And he made a mockery of that, too! Now he must pay. We will go on this journey with you.”

I release a breath. Gods, we have a fighting chance.

Everyone hurries to leave, the next part of the journey the most perilous. The mountains are jagged, the trails thin. We don’t have to fear creatures, none come so close to this desolate stretch of land. We arrive at the dilapidated building just before sunset, the stone facade cracked and falling in places, holes gaping in certain parts of the building. The orange sky paints a grim picture of the black building carved into the mountain itself. The metallic scent of blood and death lingers in the air.

One Fate stops in front of our group. “It is imperative that you listen to us. Malakai, find Alanis’s soul. Take whoever you need. The rest of us will clear each room of the castle. It isimportant that no humans, Fae, Witches, or Elves remain in the castle when we send Iclas with Ames. If anyone remains, they will perish as well. Do you understand?”

I nod and look at Viros and my father. “You two come with me. I have yet to hear back from Kailu. If he and the others made it to the Isle of Rimoldi, I have a feeling they’re in trouble. I need you all to check the dungeons here. I have a feeling these Witches may have helped Iclas more than we are aware. Leena and Hannah, stay here with Alanis’s body until I come for her.” I look to the matriarch. “Send your coven where you wish.”

She sniffs. “I will be accompanying you to find my granddaughter. I believe I owe her an apology.”

I give her a slight smile.

“It is settled, then,” says the Fate. “We will provide one hour, and then we must banish this evil once and for all. As a warning, if Iclas manages to get Alanis’s soul into another body, we will kill her ourselves before the prophecy is fulfilled.”

I growl, ready to attack. Viros holds me back, his chest also rumbling with anger. Even the matriarch’s eyes are flaring with rage.

The Fate waves her hand. “There is no other way. Now hurry.”

Before I can argue or retaliate, the Fates and the rest of the Gods and Goddesses disappear. The mountain shakes in front of us. “I guess that’s our cue.”

We enter the witch domain. Blood coats the rock walls. Bodies hang from the ceiling, completely drained of blood. Now they’re little more than skin and bones.

“Most of these witches are abominations,” says the matriarch. “Creatures that should never have existed. Their powers are not natural, as they come from a line of Witches who mated with the undead. They are, in a sense, more ghoul than Witch most of the time.”

I shudder. “No wonder Iclas went to them for help.”

I focus on the mating bond and let it guide me through the building, thanking the Gods for every second I feel it. We come to a narrow passage, rocks and debris littering the floor. The smell of mold and rust fills the air, making my nose scrunch with disgust. Witches run here and there, as if all scrambling to figure out what the hell is attacking their castle.

“Intruders!” yells a Witch with a nasty gash on her head as she sees us. The dozen or so Witches charge. I bring my sword up, ready to fight, but the action proves unnecessary. The matriarch throws her flame at them, effectively barbecuing them with one flip of her wrist.

“Impressive,” I say despite myself.

She brushes nonexistent ash from her dress. The iron door at the end of the hall calls to me. The blast from the Fates must have shaken the foundation so thoroughly that it tore the door from its hinges. I push it aside and freeze on the threshold.

I see Alanis’s soul floating above the human’s body on the table. A Witch with bright red hair and bright red eyes stands on one side of the table, Iclas on the other.

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