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

That comment has Griffin sitting forward off the couch cushion, his pointy ears drawn back.

“When did you see her?”

“Minutes ago, swimming in the ocean. She’s hot like the fires of hell.”

“We agreed on this, Emeric. You’re third to meet her.”

“As I see it, the two schmucks before me have met her. Am I wrong?”

“She’s not ready,” I growl.

“Shut it, wizard boy. I want to get this over with and get my wings back.”

“It’s not that simple,” I scold. “You don’t just fuck her and gain your magic and wings back. You have to bond with her deeper than you’re probably capable of with your cold, dead heart.”

There’s a flair of crimson feathers from behind his shoulders and black tank, but nothing more. They’re pinned to his skin, unable to spread, unable to unleash their wrath, which shows on his angry face and depthless black eyes.

Selene

Coming up to the house, I test my magic, allowing it to seep up to the front door. The magic is smooth as it flows, opening the door without the slightest noise. It must be why Griffin is so quick and quiet. Just inside the door, I hear three voices, two of them familiar. I peer around the door, using it as cover to observe the men in the living room.

The third mystery man has a side profile of a rock star. Ebony hair, with blond highlights, almost white, streaking through the black, is longer on top, much longer than Cyrus’s, and shaved short on the sides. Head to toe, he’s covered in black in a tank top, torn jeans, and scuffed ashen boots. Tattoos spiral around the arm I can see in an intricate design too difficult to make out from here. Large silver rings adorn two of his fingers, and the ear I can see has a silver earring. The strangest things are the visible feathers clinging to his shoulder blades, some faded into the skin while others are free. The feathers I can see best are a striking crimson with a tinge of white. There’s a fiery essence billowing around him like smoke as he glares at Cyrus.

I can sense this man—or whatever supernatural he is—is powerful, deadly even, yet, for whatever twisted reason, I’m curious about him.

“You pussies need to come clean with her about all of it. I’m not going to wait long to have a taste of her. You have three days.”

What the fuck?

“Don’t talk about her like she’s a sexual conquest,” Cyrus snaps.

Thank you, Cyrus. Who the hell is this supernatural?

“Isn’t that exactly what she is? We fuck, we bond, I get my wings back, end of story.”

“I’ve had enough of this.” Cyrus stands, and a silver glow releases from his hand, developing a perfect magic circle in the air, expanding large enough for a man to step through. “She’s been through enough the last two days. She doesn’t need you here when she gets back.”

The supernatural with bound wings stands, the fiery essence moving with him.

“Three days,” he grinds out. “Tell her the truth about all of us, or I will. She belongs to me as much as she belongs to you.” With one step, he disappears to whatever is on the other side, and the portal vanishes.

“Why the hell did he have to be a firstborn?” Cyrus grumbles to Griffin. “He was an asshole at university and still is.”

“You let him get to you, and he knows it.”

Standing at the door, my legs and tongue are frozen.

She belongs to me as much as she belongs to you.

This isn’t happening. I don’t want to be anyone but Griffin’s. This is wrong, all wrong. I need answers, and I need them now. Stepping out from behind the door, I receive Griffin’s and Cyrus’s shocked expressions.

“Who the hell was that? And who is going to explain what he said?”

Griffin’s cheeks flush. “Selene.” He pats the couch next to him. “Come sit down, please.”

“No, I want an explanation now.”

Griffin drops his head into his hands and rubs his face.

“Remember, I said there are five elements?”

“Yes.”

“Cyrus and I are two of them. The supernatural you overheard is Emeric. He’s fire magic. You’re meant…” His words cut off, and his hand rubs his knee as he struggles to find the words.

Cyrus cuts in. “You’re meant to bond with all five of us to break the curse your ancestor put on supernaturals.”

“And what do you mean by bond?”

“Heart, body, and magic,” Cyrus answers, his glasses dangling from his hand as he kneads his temple.

My eyes dart to Griffin, anger flaring. “Is that all I was to you? A means to an end? What did you get for seducing me?” Griffin stands and tries to take my hands, but I step back. “No, you lied to me! You don’t care about me. None of you do. Each one of you wants something from me. I’m a tool for you to use and toss aside when you’re done. I won’t be used like that!”

Leaving the room, I head for the stairs as tears roll down my face. I want out of this place. I want to go home and leave behind the memories of Griffin and Mordeeves Island. Closing the door behind me, I slump down against it and allow the tears to continue to fall. It wasn’t real. Griffin wanted to release his magic, and he got what he wanted. Now, he planned to hand me off to the next supernatural to do the same. One. After. The. Other.

Anger surges through me, and I wipe the tears away. Going into the closet, I stuff my belongings into the duffle bags. There’s pounding on the door, followed by Griffin’s voice.

“Please let me explain, Selene. It’s not what you think. I care about you. Far more than you realize.”

His words cut right to my heart. I want to believe him, but I don’t know what the truth is anymore. All I know is I want to go home. I want far