Page 121 of The Bones of the Cursed

By the time we finish, it is pitch-black outside. We are dripping sweat, but I have never been so content in my entire life.

I curl up between them, soaking in their beauty and basking in the overwhelming sense of love.

“I love you, firecracker.”

I smile, running my fingers over his swollen lips. “I love you more.”

“I love you, sunshine.” Kailu presses a kiss behind my ear.

“And I love you, lollipop.”

Kailu’s chest shakes in laughter.

So many lives were ruined because of Iclas’s greed. He never truly loved Paliri. Truly loving someone means you would do anything to make them happy, even if that meant letting them go.

The bones of the cursed still remain littered throughout the Isle of Rimoldi. The Gods and Goddesses never bothered to give them a proper burial because of the sins they committed while alive. My grandmother taught me something, though, in the short time I knew her. Forgiveness is a powerful thing. One cannot fully move on until you let the past go. Without forgiveness there is no healing, and without healing we are all just lost souls.

“I want to burn the bones of the cursed,” I say as I run my fingers through Kailu’s soft hair, his head resting on my stomach while mine rests in the crook of Malakai’s arm.

Malakai’s jolts, and I turn to look at him, his brows raised to his hairline. “Why?”

I shrug nonchalantly. “We set Leena free. What if those bones could set other souls free? They might not all deserve the Eternal Vale—some might even go straight to Hell—but I don’t think this realm can move forward until we set the cursed free. If I use my powers from a distance and we keep everyone away from theIsle, the curses will have no one else to latch onto. It’s time to close this chapter so we can start a more beautiful one.”

Malakai tilts my face toward his, gently kissing the corners of my mouth. “You are going to make an amazing queen one day.”

I giggle. “Only with you both by my side.”

“Always. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

“Sunshine, there is nowhere else I want to be,” Kailu says at the same time.

Family.

Love.

Gods, that’s all anyone really wants, just someone to know them for who they really are and love them anyway.

When I fall asleep in their arms, I no longer have nightmares. Instead I dream of a future. One that is filled with family, love and laughter, and a better world.

44

- ALANIS -

FINAL GOODBYES

Everyone is slowly healing. Kailu’s wounds healed quickly once he received proper medical attention, though the fact his back already had scars left by his father made it impossible to fully heal the new ones from Iclas.

I have grown my powers over the past week, studying and training with anyone who is available. I spend girl time every day with Hannah and Leena. Their friendship heals the pains from my past. I no longer feel like the weird outcast who was abandoned.

Here, in this realm, is where I belong.

I flip through the pages of my grandmother’s grimoire as I watch Mal and Kailu spar outside. Malakai says it is the quickest way for Kailu to gain his strength back, to Kailu’s utter dismay. He was hoping having endless amounts of sex would do that.

The three of us will rule this realm one day, and I want to make sure we are the best rulers possible for the people. It’s why I’m scouring through history books to learn everything I can.

I even visited Maryanna the other day, profusely apologizing for my prolonged absence. She gave me a smile and patted myhand. “It’s your turn for adventures.”

Hendrix comes over to where I sit at the patio table, leaning against the ivy-covered pillar of the pergola. “It’s good to see you. I thought we lost you for a second there.”

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