Page 79 of The Bones of the Cursed

Kailu shifts into his snow leopard form and charges, but the Amorak swings a paw that sends him soaring, cracking against a tree. Other Fae soldiers wield their powers, vines growing up from the ground trying to tie the beast down. The creature is too strong and easily breaks through them, and seems unfazed by the deluge of water other Fae throw at it from the waterfall.

When that fails, another Fae shifts into a falcon and flies high before diving, and at the same time Malakai lurches towards the beast and throws a roar of flames at the ground. The fire engulfs the creature, though it doesn’t hold it back for long. It leaps over the tallest of them right as Malakai swings his sword up toward its chest, and they collide—two roars of pain split the air. I know one of them belongs to Malakai for the agony that sears through my chest, dropping me to my knees. I clutch at it; I’ve never felt the bond physically before.

My heart surges painfully before slowing, but in the chaos of battle—everyone around me still on their feet charges past, taking advantage of the wound the Amorak now suffers—no one sees me fall. We may not have completed the mating bond, but Malakai and I are connected. The pain he feels, I feel. And from here, I can still see Kailu, slumped on the ground by the tree.

I jolt in surprise when I hear Mal’s voice in my head.

“Run,” he commands.

My heart thunders and I grit my teeth. I don’t know how to communicate through thoughts, but I put all my focus into it.

“I am not leaving you,” I snarl right back. Tears stream down my face.

“I need to know you escaped, firecracker. That you survived. Please.”

My heart splinters. I look up through blurry eyes and find Malakai, held down by one of the Amorak’s giant paws. Its bloodflows freely from the wound Malakai gave it, drenching him, but it clearly wasn’t a killing blow—it holds its own against the remaining soldiers still able to fight. Somehow, as if Malakai senses my gaze, he tilts his head to meet my eyes. His mouth moves, but the tears blur my vision. I wipe them clear and read his lips at the same time I hear him in my head.

“I love you.”

Oh Gods, no. This is not how it should be. We shouldn’t have to confess our love for each other because death is looming. We should have all the time in the world. I should be able to tell both the males that I love them some place that means something to us.

My lungs seize.

I can’t lose them.

Iwon’t.

Everything moves in slow motion.

Something simmers in my veins, the sensation that used to be a dull echo but now comes to life. It’s stronger than the pull I had towards the realm, towards either Malakai or Kailu. It’s like this living, breathing thing inside of me, all the anger and loss building up to a crescendo. It feels so similar to the ice that shot from my fingers in that medical tent, and yet a thousand times stronger, sharper. My overwhelming fury and sorrow flows into whatever powers remain hidden in me.

I close my eyes and take a breath, and then Iscream.

It echoes through the valley. A cacophony of energy slams out of my body as I dig deeper into my fear. I burrow so deep into my emotions that I’m worried I may never come back up.

When my throat is raw and my body sags in exhaustion, my weight caught by my hands flat to the ground, I finally glance up.

The Amorak is gone. Silence rings in my ears.

Everyone stares at me with jaws dropped, eyes wide. Malakai is on the ground, still bleeding, but his eyes are glued on me.Kailu has managed to shift back into his Fae form and is limping toward me.

I try to smile at him, but I collapse instead.

30

- ALANIS -

MEMORIES

I’m not sure how much time has passed. I’ve heard hushed words and whispered prayers to the Gods for so long that time has blurred. I know without a doubt that Malakai and Kailu have been by my bedside the entire time. If one must leave, the other is here.

A slight flicker of light catches my attention. I’m trapped in my own head, darkness all around save for that flicker. I reach a hand out and gasp when I see my fingers. I have a body in whatever subspace this is. Did I enter some kind of weird in-between world?

I walk towards the light until I find a flickering flame, a lone candle sitting on a windowsill. A flower box with peonies decoratesthe otherwise dark surroundings.

I know this place.This was my home in the Caselian Realm. I peer inside the window and see my mother and father, and my heart clenches. Gods, I miss them.

“Tiernan, I’m worried. It happened again. She got angry,and when she slammed her door,it sent a shockwave through the house. The poor dog scampered off and hid under the bed. This power inside her is growing each day.”

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