Unbound: The Cursed Trilogy, Book One by Betty Legend (small books to read .txt) 📕

“I think he does.”

Raising his hand, Cyrus’ finger caresses my cheek. The simple gesture surprises me, yet creates an unexpected flap of butterflies. Griffin’s hands cup my shoulders, and I jolt, immediately feeling guilty for the way I feel about Cyrus’s touch. Griffin kisses me on the cheek, then caresses his hands down my back, seemingly unaffected by Cyrus touching me.

“It’s time to head back.”

The room behind Griffin’s dining room isn’t an office or an entertainment room as you’d expect in a normal house. Instead, it’s a room set up for magic, with a center island just like in the kitchen, but this one is for books, bowls, and ingredients for spells. Along the walls are shelves of books, stones, herbs, and glittering objects I don’t recognize, among other mystery items.

Lying an old, weathered brown book on the table island in front of me, Cyrus points to it.

“This book has a great amount of knowledge about supernaturals. You’ll find many if not all of them listed.”

Lifting it, I trail my finger along the strange, wrinkly, hard exterior.

“What is it made out of?”

“Animal hide and papyrus.”

“Oh.” I’m quick to set it back down. “What kind of animal?”

Griffin and Cyrus shrug, and Cyrus opens it to the first page. “It’s too old to know for sure.”

“How did you end up with it?”

Griffin’s pointy ears twitch. “We might have permanently borrowed it from the university library.” Cyrus and Griffin share a mischievous glance.

“I wish I could have gone to school with you. I’m sure it would’ve been fun.”

Griffin steps up to me, caressing his hands from my shoulders down my arms.

“I wish I could have met you a lot sooner.” With a kiss on my cheek, he walks toward the exit. “I’m going to take care of mainland business.” He points to Cyrus. “You’re in good hands.” The two give each other a knowing smile, and right then, I wish I were able to read minds.

Cyrus slides into the chair next to me, his pretty hazel eyes lingering on me. I study the details of his eyes and find a kaleidoscope of color from rosy brown to gold to olive green with silver shimmer in between.

“Your eyes are beautiful.” The words slip from my lips, and I’m immediately embarrassed.

Cyrus’s gaze lowers from my eyes to my heated cheeks.

“So are you.”

The touch of his soft finger caresses my cheek, and it’s like a rush of a rollercoaster ride, my chest rising and falling.

“I… I’m sorry.” I look away. “You’re Griffin’s best friend.”

Cyrus releases a heavy sigh. “There’s more you need to know.”

“Like what?”

“Did he tell you about the Holy Accolades?”

“Yes.”

“And the demons?”

“Demons?”

Opening the supernatural book to a certain page, he points to a gargoyle-like creature, then turns the pages, and images of long-toothed, horned, leathery creatures look back at me with demonic eyes. My hands pull back, and I wrap my arms around myself.

“They exist?”

“Yes.”

“Have you seen them?”

Cyrus closes the book, tearing my gaze away from the horrid drawings.

“I have, but they can hide like we can. Some can shapeshift and look human. Which is how one infiltrated the Holy Accolades and manipulated them and others.”

The thought of these creatures among humans sends a shiver down my spine.

“What happened?”

“A demon, shapeshifting as a human, convinced the Holy Accolades the only way to stop the abominations from spreading was to use a supernatural to defeat them. The demon and the Accolades tortured one druid witch after another until one succumbed and used her magic against her own kind.”

“That’s awful.”

Cyrus places a hand on my shoulder and caresses. The strong, affectionate gesture eases some of the chill creeping through my body.

“It was.”

“Why did the demon want to rid the world of supernaturals as the Holy Accolades do?”

“Supernaturals have enough magic to fight them and keep a balance. Without supernaturals, the demons gain more control over our realm and humans.”

My eyes must be bulging out of my head because Cyrus pauses from explaining this horrible truth, caressing his hand across my cheek and into my hair. Every time he touches me, it’s soothing, exciting, and equally maddening.

“We won’t let anything happen to you. It’s why you’re here to learn your magic in a safe place.”

Pushing his hand away, my brows pinch inward. What is this chemistry between us? It feels right when he touches me but leaves me with uncomfortable guilt. Withdrawing from his soothing touch, I put my hair behind my ear and take a long, deep breath.

“I liked it better when I didn’t know about demons. Maybe I shouldn’t be here.”

“You’re meant to be here.”

“Why?” My eyes dart to his expression of concern. “Why do you and Griffin keep saying things like that? What are you not telling me?”

Cyrus removes his glasses and massages the bridge of his nose. Returning them to his face, there’s discomfort behind them.

“This isn’t going to be easy to understand.”

“Tell me, anyway.”

“The dark magic the druid witch used against her own kind became a curse we couldn’t escape. Until you.”

“What do you mean?”

“The curse has been killing our kind for centuries. Some have gone extinct, and other supernaturals are nearly there. Our magic has weakened over time. There are supernaturals like Griffin whose magic is weak unless used in a place built of magic.”

“Is that because he’s Fae and connected to Fae magic like there is here?”

“Yes. I’m a warlock with air magic. My magic doesn’t require a connection to a place of magic.”

My palm presses to my forehead, and I stare blankly at the weathered book in front of me.

“Cyrus, this is a lot.”

“I know. I’m sorry your family didn’t share any of this with you. They should have.”

“My father…” Tears pool in my eyes. “He told me such fantastic stories when I was a child. I grew up believing they were only fairytales. Now… I feel like an orphan, like I don’t know my own family.” A single tear streams down my cheek, and Cyrus wipes his thumb across my