Page 61 of A Curse So Cruel

Raith carries me from the amphitheatre, and I’m glad because not only did he make me come once, buttwice.He said something about it being only fair seeing as Galen made me come without him, and somehow that makes them even.Men.Not that I’m complaining considering I went from no orgasms to three in one day, and needless to say, my already aching legs now feel like jelly again.

We step from a shadow pathway, and we enter a familiar corridor, stepping out right in front of my dorm door. But he doesn’t let me down. If anything, Raith’s hold on me tightens as he stands there, just staring at the door. Instinctively, I bury my face in his chest as if his black shirt is feathers, and I’m trying to hide my head in there. Of course, I can’t, so I simply inhale his scent, breathing him in.

I’m pretty sure he believes the same thing as Galen now. That we’re mates. Not that he’s said it, and in a way, I’m glad. It’s niceto be able to enjoy this without discussing how I’m supposedly going to destroy them and ruin everything.

Ah damn, and now I’m thinking about it. My thoughts sober. My memories are a mess, and from the moment I’d turned human, I’ve felt…wrong. Like I’m still in scattered pieces, and I’m not sure if I’ll ever be whole again. I wonder if it’s something to do with the curse on the guys. Maybe when they were cursed, the magic affected me too? All I know is, the idea that I might find out who I am and get a happy ending of my own, is slowly slipping away. On the one hand, it has been fun with Galen and Raith, but on the other, if they think I’m going to ruin them, well…I’m not sure I want to know what they’ll do to me when they come to their senses.

Oblivious to my thoughts, Raith holds me possessively like he never intends to let me down, and as reluctant as I am, I know it can’t last. This can be a busy corridor, and we could have company at any moment. As much as I would happily announce to the world that Raith is mine, that would only complicate things more.

“Raith,” I murmur, lifting my head. “You need to let me down.”

His jaw hardens, the muscles of his chest tensing. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you,” he says, and even though the words are for me, it’s like he’s reassuring himself. I want to believe what he’s saying, but I’m not that naive.

“Raith,” I prompt again, and I wiggle until he reluctantly sets me on my feet.

“Get some dinner and rest,” he tells me, his hands lingering on my shoulders, and his usual happy-go-lucky expression slowly returning to his face. “I’ll figure things out with the others.”

“What does that mean?” I ask, but Raith steps back into a mass of shadows and disappears, and then it’s only me standing in the corridor.

I suck in a deep breath trying to clear my head, because I still can’t believe everything that has happened today. Despite all the ominous talk about the guys being cursed, I find myself grinning. I mean, I did just have some of the best orgasms of my life. At least, as far as I can remember.

“Ohh doesn’t someone look chipper,”Elgen’s voice slides into my mind, and I look up to see her and Tarlaz watching me.“Glad to see you’re still in one piece.”

I can’t be sure if she’s sincere about that, but I smile at her anyway.“Thanks. I am, too.”

She sighs in my head.

“You shouldn’t anger the dark prince like that, girl,”Tarlaz says.“He could have killed you.”

I narrow my eyes at them.“What? That wasn’t my fault.”

Tarlaz tilts his head, considering.“Then again, if you’ve managed to ally with the twin, then your strategy seems sound.”

“What strategy?”I frown.

“To get the bigger one to protect you,”Tarlaz explains.

“No, that’s not a strategy, that’s…”I trail off as something else occurs to me.“Hold on, were you two…worried about me? That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? Have you been waiting for me this whole time?”

Elgen scoffs.“Please child, your death would bean insignificant loss.”

Despite her words, my lips twist.“Mhmmm. You’re starting to like me.”

Elgen looks displeased at my accusation.“We merely enjoy the entertainment you provide.”

“Tarlaz?”I question, because clearly I’m not going to get the truth out of Elgen.

“You’re the only one who has been able to hear us in centuries, girl. You are a curiosity,”he replies.

I cross my arms.“Yeah, about that. Why do you think I’m the only one who can hear you?”

“Your guess is as good as ours,”Tarlaz replies cryptically.

“We are zenali,”Elgen adds.“We were…changed when the academy was built.”

“What does that mean?”I ask. From my history lesson with Galen, I know the zenali are higher shadow beings, but what does she mean by ‘changed’?

“It means we are trapped within these walls and have been for a very long time,”Tarlaz says.