Page 32 of The Bones of the Cursed

I gasp at the size of him. These damn Fae males are going to be the death of me. How is a girl ever supposed to enjoy a human man again if this is what they’re packing?

I wriggle around to face him, running my fingers up his throat and along his jawline. I lean up and, before I can convince myself not to, lick up the side of his throat all the way behind his pointed ears.

He shudders, but before he can do anything, I yank myself free.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he practically growls at me.

I give him the sweetest smile I can. “To get breakfast, of course. Better hurry, lollipop, wouldn’t want you to go hungry.”

I give him a wink and flit outside. Hearing him curse and grumble makes me laugh so loud that it draws the attention of every person around the campfire catty-corner from our tent. When I just wave, the soldiers return to their eating, the sound of metal spoons clanking inside bowls the only sound. I spot Hannah, but have no time to say anything before she is launching herself at me.

“Don’t you ever scare me like that again.”

“I’m so sorry I scared you, Han.”

“You look much better this morning,” Siveral says as I join him at the campfire.

“Are you saying I looked like shit before?” I tilt my head at him and prop my hands on my hips.

“Dear Gods, you are a ball buster. I almost feel bad for Kailu.”

I laugh, bumping my shoulder into his.

“She really is a pain in the ass. I wasn’t being dramatic.” Kailu’s deep voice fills the space.

“How are you doing this morning? Hopefully it wasn’t toohardwaking up.” My innuendo isn’t lost on him as he pulls his lips back in a feral smile. “Let me guess. He shifts into an opossum. A rabid one.”

Siveral coughs to cover up his laugh. I wink at him before turning to grab some food, the oatmeal now cold and slightly congealed. And yet, as I settle in to eat, I become abruptly aware of the way everyone is looking at me.

It’s Siveral who breaks the silence. “Alanis, I know you went through hell yesterday, but we have some questions.”

The blond Fae I don’t know snorts. “We all went through hell yesterday.”

Siveral ignores the interruption. “Alanis, what did the Banshee say to you?”

I suck in a breath, my mind immediately latching back onto raw fear. Something changed, though, when I refused to cower.

Shechanged.

Became more human.

She became who she was before the curse. I swallow hard and look into each set of eyes around the fire. They are on this dangerous journey, too. They deserve to know what they’re walking into. So I tell them everything, leaving no detail out—save for my plan to set her free.

- KAILU -

I don’t take my eyes off Alanis the entire time she tells her story. Anyone with eyes can see her physical beauty, but she is so much more than that. She’s whip-smart and has one of the purest hearts I have ever seen.

She let go of her fear as she faced the Banshee and saw her for the human she used to be rather than the cursed monster the rest of us saw. She saw through this creature down to its core and brought back the human that has probably been gone for centuries.

Of course, Orion, the blond Fae bastard, has to ruin the moment. “That’s all well and good, but I think we need to focus on the fact that the creature flat-out told Alanis she is being targeted. Which, might I add, brings the threat of death to anyone near her.”

I grind my teeth together, taking a deep breath. Out of the corner of my eye I see Alanis pale, but she nods her head in understanding.

“If anyone does not feel comfortable continuing on this mission,” I say as calmly as I can, “please speak now and I will make sure you get assigned somewhere new. I need everyone here to be focused and willing. I will not force you.” I take a pause and wait.

It’s Hendrix and the humans who stand. “We will continue and help save our men. We won’t leave them behind.”

I look to Siveral next and he gives a nod. I already knew he wouldn’t be going anywhere. Not just because he wants to save our men, but I think he may have a thing for the little blond, Hannah. Gods bless him if she’s as stubborn as Alanis.

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