Page 51 of The Bones of the Cursed

“Where is he today?” I ask.

She shrugs. “He disappears frequently, but can’t stay away from this place long. This is his home, and he is cursed to remain here. If he travels too far or stays away for an extended time, he becomes weak. I’m sure we don’t have long.”

It’s then I notice her tear-stained face. “What has he done to you?” I whisper, wishing my hands weren’t restrained so I could reach out and touch her.

She sniffles. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to me.”

Her dark brown eyes meet my own. “All manner of things. He forces me to kill innocent people…” Her breath goes ragged, as if memories assault her. “I didn’t want to—he made me. He sent me into the Lower Shrol with a handful of Witches. There was a woman there he wanted for his own pleasure…” She shudders. “He made me kill her husband. I swear I didn’t want to. Gods, their poor children werescreaming. I tried like hell to fight his power, but I just couldn’t. I’ve never been able to. They watched me murder their father, and then watched as the Witches dragged their mother away.”

“This is not your fault,” I whisper, scared to speak too loudly.

She sniffles again. “How is it not? I did that. I orphaned those children!”

“You did not. He did. He forced your hand.” I watch as she digs her nails into her palms, leaving crescent-shaped indents.“I’m assuming the wife is now dead?”

She nods solemnly.

Exhaling, I glance at the ceiling. “What is it he wants?”

“To be the most powerful creature to exist. He wants control of the whole realm.”

“But why?”

She shrugs. “Who knows why any evil person does the things they do? From the way he rants, I would say at one point he was made to feel inferior and is now trying to prove he’s not.”

21

- ALANIS -

A PROPHECY

The last leg of the trip to Percius is torture. I refuse to talk to Kailu or Malakai, completely done with the half-truths and avoidance. It’s not as though Kailu even presents the opportunity, given he stays in his snow leopard form the entire time.

A freaking snow leopard!

Malakai walks up to me as we traverse the rugged terrain at the base of the Sinwood Mountains, deciding to lead our horses on foot until we reach the town of Selianthe. “Alanis…I’m sorry we didn’t tell you. I’ve been on my own for quite some time, and I haven’t had to share information or function in a team in a while. I should have told you when I first realized.” He pauses, taking a breath, like he is preparing himself for something. “But there’s something else I need to tell you.”

I throw my hand up, not wanting to discuss anything further.

He trails off, running his hands through his hair in exasperation. I’m not sure why, but I want to fall into his arms. I don’t want to be strong anymore. I rub at the pinch in my chest as he moves away from me.

Just as we enter Selianthe, a group of ghouls comes rushingfrom the wilds. The horses scramble, running erratically to avoid the oncoming danger.

There are only three ghouls, but they do not shy away from us. One comes barreling at Kailu, knocking him to the ground. Malakai takes on another, slashing at its throat. Kailu throws the thing off his back, but the ghoul doesn’t relent, even as it and Kailu circle each other. Kailu pounces, pinning the thing to the ground, Malakai coming in with his sword to decapitate it.

Taking down the ghouls takes only minutes, the bodies littering the ground around us. I help a handful of soldiers gather the frightened horses, grabbing a towel and an extra pair of trousers from the satchel on Zephyr’s back. I walk towards Kailu, who has shifted back into his Fae form.

“Thanks,” he says softly, hesitation in his gaze as he wipes the sludge from his face. He stands naked, and I have to fight like hell to avert my gaze.

“What the hell did they want?” Siveral snaps.

Hendrix collects the bodies, flicking a match and lighting them on fire. Their burning bodies send black smoke into the sky, the smell of rot and death burning my nose.

“I have no idea,” Malakai says. “But we need to get to the city. That will be the safest place to figure out what the hell is going on.”

Watching the scene unfold, I wonder if Malakai is stationed above Kailu since he seems to have taken over giving orders.

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