Page 41 of The Bones of the Cursed

He growls at me through clenched teeth. “No, I don’t know why. We don’t know shit, you just assumed. And even if that is what this is, I didn’t ask you to rip her heart out.”

I shove him back, begging for a fight. “We all saw your arm. You felt the pain when she did, you bled when she did! You’re Godsdamned fated, Malakai! I can’t compete with that!”

Malakai pauses. “Kailu, I know this opens old wounds—”

“You don’t know shit.”

He gives me his look that calls bullshit. “I know what happened between you and my sister hurt, but it’s been decades.”

I bark out a pained laugh. “What are the chances that the two females I’ve ever loved both end up fated to others? That’s some pretty bad luck if you ask me.”

Malakai opens his mouth, as if to retort, only to stop to stare at me in shock. “You love her?”

I clasp my hands around the back of my neck, turning away. I’d really like this conversation to end, but I have a feeling he won’t let it drop. “I care for her deeply. I have only ever loved your sister…”

A branch snaps and I turn. Alanis’s wide blue eyes filled with pain and betrayal. She shakes her head, shaky fingers touching her lips. “Sorry, I…I heard a noise and just wanted to make sure you were all right.”

“Alanis, wait!” I call for her, but she doesn’t stop her retreat, her jagged breaths ripping what’s left of my heart to shreds.

“You love her,” Malakai states.

I nod solemnly. “I care for her enough to let her go. I would never ask her to go through the pain of choosing. I saw what it did to your sister. Being in love with me and her fated, it almost killed her. I won’t do that to Alanis.”

I look to Malakai, who had been one of my best friends since joining the King’s Guard. Our relationship burnt to ashes around the same time his sister married another.

Not that I blame her.

“And what if I said I didn’t want her? If I left and didn’treturn.”

I smile, though not from joy. “You and I both know that’s a lie. Everyone in that room felt your connection, even her. She might not understand what happened or what it means, but when she does, those feelings…” I take a deep breath, trying to calm my broken heart. “You know as well as I do that you wouldn’t be able to stay away for long, not now that you know. There will be a constant draw to where she is, one you won’t be able to escape or resist.”

He looks away, refusing to meet my eye. He knows I’m right; he clearly already feels the pull toward her.

“I’m going to take a few of the humans and branch off on my own. I think it’ll be best for all of us if I give her some space. I’m going to head towards the villages of Vrolstead and Reapwood and see what I can find.”

His brows furrow. “She’s going to be hurt when she wakes up and finds you’re gone.”

I swallow hard. “I know, but it’s for the best. You will be here to help. Get to know her. She really is quite amazing.” I smile thinking about her and everything we have been through together. I’m going to miss my sunshine more than anything, I don’t want to live in the dark anymore.

“Your fated is out there. You know that, right? We all have one; we just have to be willing to find them.”

When I walk toward him, he braces, as if he’s ready to take a punch. Instead, I clap him on the back, pulling him in for a hug. His arms clasp tightly around me and in that moment I regret all the wasted time, time I could have spent with my best friend, but instead I distanced myself and wallowed in self-pity.

“Protect her, Mal,” I whisper into his ear. “They’re coming for her, and they won’t stop until they have her.”

He simply nods.

When we return to camp together, I head for Siveral. “I’mgoing to go on ahead of the group. Try to get further in a smaller group for some answers.”

Siveral tilts his head at me, studying me. “Kailu, if this is about what happened in the cave…”

Raising a hand, I cut him off. “Just leave it.”

Siveral puts a hand on my shoulder and stares at me. Not with pity, he would never, but with pain. “I understand why you need space, but shouldn’t you explain to Alanis instead of running away in the middle of the night?”

I square my shoulders. “I’m not running. I’ll be back. I just need time. It hurts, Siveral. I feel like I’m split open and bleeding out. How can this happen again?”

He sighs. “I don’t know. But you will find your happiness. I’m sure of it.”

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