Page 73 of The Bones of the Cursed

Malakai and I wait.

A bloodcurdling scream splits the air, sending Malakai to his knees. I grip his shoulders, concern and fear battling for my attention.

“Alanis,” he breathes out.

My blood runs cold.

The footsteps return, but only for a moment before they veer off and disappear down the hallway to the left.

I waste no time sprinting down the center corridor that I know will lead me to her. Two iron doors greet me, but only one is propped open. Malakai checks inside. His whispered curse tells me all I need to know.

I walk to the other door and examine the lock. A magic pattern lock. I turn to Malakai, who looks just as clueless.

“Alanis?” I whisper, scared to talk too loudly for fear my voicewill carry to Iclas or the ghouls I’m sure roam about.

Just as I go to say her name again, a figure approaches from the antechamber, catching my attention. Malakai and I brace for the attack, drawing our swords.

“Banshee,” Mal whispers, fear widening his eyes.

Her teeth are frighteningly long and deadly sharp. Tilting her head, she examines us. She takes a step closer and I lift my hands in a placating way.

“Please, I just came for my mate,” Malakai says.

The Banshee continues to stare. She takes a few more steps, running her killer nails across the stone wall, the sound setting my teeth on edge. I don’t dare move for fear of making her think I’m attacking. And then I recognize her.

“It’s the same Banshee who went after Alanis,” I whisper, taking another step away from the creature.

Malakai’s head snaps up. “Please, Alanis told me about you. She wants to set you free. But she can’t do that if she is held prisoner here. Please, I beg you. Let us save her.”

The creature’s eyes clear, brightening at the sound of my mate’s name.

“Alanis is your mate?” she whispers in her wintry voice.

He nods, unwilling to say anything further.

I watch in awe as the disturbing creature before me turns into a normal female: black hair, dark brown eyes, red lips. There’s a dimple in her chin. Something about her seems familiar, but I’m not sure why.

She quickly looks around, and then pulls a key from around her neck. “This is the key to all the doors here. He uses the same pattern and key for all of them. You need to get her out as soon as possible. He won’t stop until he gets what he wants.”

Nodding, I take the key. “I didn’t think he would. Does he keep any of the other captives here?”

“Many. He’s been collecting humans, Fae, Elves, and allmanner of creatures for decades to create an army that only he can control. He’s made so many sacrifices to the Hell Gods that he has no soul left.”

I think for a minute. “Can those he has taken be saved?”

She stares into my eyes, though I’m not sure what she’s looking for. “Yes,” she says all the same. “There is a way.”

I swallow hard. “Is there a way to do this without the sacrifice the prophecy talks about?”

“No.”

- MALAKAI -

Rage consumes me. How am I to choose between saving my people and saving my mate? I look to Kailu, and his eyes are a reflection of my own feelings. Everything else went out the window when we met Alanis. She changed everything. I will not give her up now.

There has to be another way.

A sound from above makes the Banshee flinch. “Hurry. You need to get her out.Now.”

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