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

tastes like bitter apple. Not a fan. Seconds later, my vision goes fuzzy, and I stumble, a headache forming between my temples. Four hands are on me, keeping me upright.

“Will it hurt her?” Griffin’s voice is urgent and distant. Hearing those words warms my heart. He’s so caring, something I adore about him.

“A little,” Ancor’s says matter-of-factly, not harsh or cruel, but honest. He’s such a strange Fae.

Emeric’s soft wings wrap around me, right as pain pulses in my belly, and my surroundings black out.

My vision is fuzzy on the edges, like a dream where you’re watching from another’s point of view. I’m in an era definitely far in the past, based on the tiny, wooden plank cabin in the distance and the clothing of the two people I see.

“You will do what we ask, Cataleya, or your little girl will never wake to another morning.”

A woman in a gray, battered dress is on her knees with a jagged rope tight around the hands held behind her back.

“Please, don’t. She’s only a child!”

“Give us what we want, witch!” A whip cracks along her back, blood splattering onto the ground around her.

“I can’t!” She screams, her tears staining her cheeks, dripping into the muddy, blood-soaked ground. “I can’t betray my people!”

The angry man in a blue-and-gold tunic yielding the whip pulls it back to lash her again but lowers his hand as another figure enters my view. The tall, bald man emanates anger and violence. His tight, flat mouth is below a pointed nose and soulless brown eyes. As he nears Cataleya, his ruthless gaze bores down on her, and she scoots back on her dirty, bloody knees, whimpering.

“Please, no!”

The tall, frightening man wears the same blue-and-gold tunic with black pants beneath. As he bends down, there’s a flicker like I’ve seen before. A twitch in his face revealing what truly hides behind the face of a man. Black leathery skin clings to his skull, red beady eyes are below curling black horns that reach his pointed ears. Long, sharp fangs bite into his bottom lip as he scowls at Cataleya. With her terrified, wide eyes, I know she sees what I see.

“Leave us,” he orders the man with the whip, his voice a fearsome growl.

Cataleya leans back on her calves and feet as far as she can go as the demon snarls in her face.

“You will bind their magic, or I will eat the flesh from your child and burn her soul for all eternity.”

Fear seizes my chest, and I suck in a breath as my entire body stiffens. My surroundings blur as I drift from the scene.

Coughing, I grasp for Griffin and Emeric, and they hold me between their bodies stroking and kissing me with worry in their eyes. My limbs are shaking, tears welling beneath my lids. I’ll forever be haunted by that vision.

“Now, you see why we need you, fairy painter.”

I can’t get my breathing back to normal. I’m sucking in air in gulps as I cling to Griffin and Emeric.

Ancor nods to them. “Take her home. Cyrus is waiting for her.”

I try to take a step but falter. Emeric scoops me up in his muscled arms, holding me protectively to his chest.

“I’ll fly her home.”

Ancor touches Griffin’s arm before we leave.

“Give her this.” He walks over to his cabinet and pulls out a wood wrapped flask. “To prevent nightmares.”

Emeric has me out the door before Griffin accepts the flask.

“What did you see?” he whispers against my ear.

“Something I don’t want to remember.”

Emeric holds me tight as he spreads his wings wide and lifts us into the air with the grace of an eagle. He soars through the open trees, then flaps his wings as we glide through the air toward the rooftop of Griffin’s house. The feel of the air against my face and body is freeing. Being this high, going this fast, has my adrenaline pumping through my body, fading away the fear.

“This is amazing.”

Emeric’s laughter rumbles through his chest.

“I know, baby. It’s what I’ve been missing.”

Emeric lowers us on Griffin’s rooftop bedroom, our feet meeting the floor with ease. Turning to face him, he pulls me tight to him, kissing me with fiery passion. His hands fist in my hair, then follow the shape of my body, lowering to my ass. Lifting my legs, he wraps them around his waist and backs me to the chaise lounge.

“This is Griffin’s room.”

“It’s cute that you think I care.”

He lays me beneath him, then reaches a hand toward the door and sends a ball of essence to it. It hurtles to the door, then stops and swirls around the knob.

“Anyone who tries to come in will get burned.”

“That’s clever and painful.”

“Well, baby, sometimes I’m an asshole.” I can’t help laughing at his wicked smirk. “And right now, I think you need this asshole.”

“I do. I want you.”

“I know.”

His mouth closes over mine, sending sparks of heat through my body. My libido is an engine roaring to life as my desire flares for this sinfully masculine male. Pulling my shorts down, he removes them and my panties. As I strip off my shirt, he spreads my legs and lowers his mouth to my pussy lips.

This winged man is magical when it comes to oral sex. He knows how to find my clit and how to apply the right pressure with his tongue to drive me wild. It only takes minutes for me to fist the sides of the chair as he pushes me over the edge into ecstasy.

“Emeric…”

He rises from between my legs and wipes his mouth.

“Yeah, babe?”

“I want more.”

That wicked grin creases his scar, crimson shimmering in his eyes.

“Turn over.”

Rolling to my stomach, he unclasps my bra, letting it fall onto the cushion. The sound of his belt unbuckles, and my anticipation grows. Between my legs, he massages then withdraws, and a moment later, his cockhead is at my pussy lips.

I don’t expect gentle or slow, and I’m right. He thrusts hard and