Page 120 of The Bones of the Cursed

“Her powers,” Malakai whispers.

“Her full powers.” I recognize my father’s voice instantly.

My soul finally snaps into place, my body tensing and shooting upright. My eyes are wide as I take in the scene around me. Wind whips the hair of the people in the bedroom I recognize well, while snowflakes drift out of the left corner and icicles protrude from the ceiling. A light rain falls in the opposite corner while flames encircle me. The ground shakes, as if an earthquake were hitting only this room. I close my eyes, focusing on the roiling emotions inside me.

I focus on Elion. The brother who may not be blood but who has stood by me no matter what.

I focus on Hannah. The friend who, even through her own pain and suffering, always held me steady through my own.

I focus on my father. The man who lost his mate and his daughter, but still protected me and loved me from a distance.

I focus on my grandmother. The woman who realized that family means more than anything.

The king who has given me the support of a father, who has welcomed me as one of his own.

My eyes land on Malakai and Kailu. I focus on them last. The bad boy Fae and the Fae who was scared to love. My mates. The ones the Fates knew I needed. The males who have fought for me and with me since I first laid eyes on them. The ones my soulresponds to and knows better than I even know myself.

I focus on my family.

I focus on love.

My body slowly calms. A wave of power pulses from my body, creating a glowing golden light.

As the light fades, my eyes latch onto the liquid silver eyes that I have gone too long without seeing.

“Firecracker,” Malakai breathes out. His voice breaks on emotion. He slowly walks towards me, as if he is scared that I’m a flight risk. My hands still glow with whatever power I just unlocked. I give him a questioning look and he smiles.

“Your father said it seems you got your mother’s power of photokinesis. Lucky. I would love to be able to manipulate light.”

I roll my eyes, missing his attitude and the large smile that shows those dimples I love so much. He stands a foot away, looking at me as if I might disappear in an instant.

I slowly twist my body and rise from the bed. I look down to see someone has dressed me in a modest nightgown. Thank the Gods for that or this would be embarrassing.

Everyone in the room shifts closer to me. They seem worried that I might fall over at any second. Shit, maybe I will.

I take a tentative step towards Kailu who stands at my bedside, reaching out my hand to caress his cheek, his stubble scratchy against my palm. He nuzzles his face into my hand and covers it with his own, closing his eyes to savor the feel of my skin on his, a tear slipping down his cheek.

I hear more than see the others in the room quietly leave, my eyes refusing to stray from his face. Malakai comes and wraps his arms around me, and I turn to him.

“I will love you in this life and the next, too. Both of you,” I whisper.

When their eyes lock on mine, I feel everything they do. An overwhelming sense of joy and longing flow through ourbodies. I wrap my hands around Kailu’s neck, kissing him with everything I have, unwilling to take even a second for granted. He kisses me back like I’m the air he needs to breathe. His hands roam over my body, as if trying to make sure I am real.

“I’m here, Kai. I’m all right.”

I kiss him one more time before I lean my forehead against his. Our hearts beat in sync. His presence alone calming the chaos.

He glances at Malakai. “Marry me. Marry us,” he whispers.

My body stills, my heart doing an odd pitter-patter in my chest. I look at Malakai and find his eyes shimmering with tears and longing.

“Yes.”

When Kailu kisses me again, I know that I won’t be leaving this bedroom anytime soon. He tears my night clothes from my body, licking and sucking every inch of my skin. The mating bond has been freed, and now more than ever I want to solidify it. Malakai leans me back against his chest, pulling my legs wide as Kailu settles between them.

Kailu stares into my eyes for a moment, the air around us drawing tight, and I kiss him and nod, feeling Malakai’s teeth sink into my neck. Kailu takes me with such force I’m sure I won’t be able to walk in the morning—I can’t wait. Our souls connect, and my eyes grow wide. Malakai reaches down, flicking my clit while Kailu pounds into my body, and my hands trace every inch of his skin I can reach. My body craves them. The bond glows brightly in the same way it did with Mal, and when it finally connects, everything in me settles. Kailu stares into my eyes, love radiating from him.

He thrusts two more times before spilling inside me. Malakai growls as Kailu pulls out. Malakai quickly flips me over, slamming home and making me see stars. They make me come so many times I think I actually black out.

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