Page 118 of The Bones of the Cursed

I knew the second I entered the Isle of Rimoldi that something wasn’t right. Fucking Levi, but at least he’s dead now. I will relish the memory of my blade slicing open his jugular for many years to come.

The damn Witches were a surprise, though. They quickly incapacitated all of us, and when I next awoke, Iclas was standing across from me in some type of dungeon. The air was frigid, the floor shining with water dripping from somewhere above.

Hatred boiled in my blood. I refused to let him hear my paineven as he tortured me, as if to pass the time while the dark Witches worked to bring Alanis back. Every lash to my back I took silently, watching my blood fall to the ground. Hendrix passed out from the pain first. His heartbeat still remained steady, to my relief.

Siveral took the least of the beatings and tried his best to keep me awake, but it was impossible when Iclas’s boot connected with my flayed skin. The pain too much to bear.

Blackness overtook my vision, the sound of fighting off in the distance. I hoped it was Mal.

A golden light grabbed my attention in my unconscious state. Unthinkingly, I pulled on the tether, hope bursting through me at the familiar feel.

“Kailu?”

Alanis’s soft words spoken in my thoughts sent a jolt to my very soul.

“Alanis, is this what I hope it is?”

Her faint giggle chased away the cold seeping into my body.

“The mating bond,” she said.“It’s no longer blocked by the curse.”

I could have screamed in happiness. I knew from the moment I saw her that she was different. I felt drawn to her even then.

“Are you all right? Did Mal get you?”

Noise begins to infiltrate into my thoughts. Someone moving my body and shaking me awake, but I don’t want to go. I want to stay and talk to her. To my mate.

“He’s here.”

“Kailu come on, man, open your eyes.” The voice drags me back, my heart fighting to stay with her a bit longer.

Peeling my eyes open, I groan in pain. Captain Thelos stares down at me. “Thank the Gods. I’d rather not face Malakai’s wrath should I carry your corpse out of here. We need to get you all out before the Fates decimate everyone and everything.”

My eyes are heavy, but I lean on him for support as we trudge our way out. The pain is near unbearable, but knowing my mate is so close spurs me on.

43

- MALAKAI -

RECONNECTED SOULS

The journey home feels like it takes forever. Each hour that passes drags on a little more. What little patience I had is wearing thin. I want to see Alanis again.

We return to the castle four days later, the trip back slower because of our injured. Siveral and Hendrix are healing, but Kailu needs a real healer, not people making do. Iclas did quite the number on him, his back shredded, bones broken and never set correctly. He’s alive, but in some extreme pain, so I spend my nights lying beside him. Few words are exchanged, but every so often, he squeezes my fingers, laced through his. I always squeeze back.

When we finally arrive at the castle, I hurry down to the healing chambers, where Laylani is ready and waiting. Her eyes widen and her face pales when she takes in Kailu’s state.

“Hurry, place him here.” She moves things around and quickly orders the other healers to get to work on Siveral and Hendrix. Their injuries are nowhere near as severe, but they still need to be looked after.

I wait as Laylani works, sitting on the cot Alanis lays upon, worrying my knuckles as I watch Hannah heal Kailu. Hannahmixes up a concoction that puts Kailu into a deep sleep so he won’t have to feel the pain as she works.

“He’ll be all right,” Hannah says without looking up.

Nodding, I touch Alanis’s hand, only to jolt back at the coldness.

“Now what happens?”

Before anyone can respond, Ryta, Caselia, Viros, and Ames appear out of nothingness, along with those temperamental Fates. My father escorts Elion into the room, as well as a Shadow Vale Witch.

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