Page 92 of Cursed Heirs

Initially, I’d identified it as stubbornness. It wasn’t. Nor was it ego or anything like that. He hid it well, especially from anyone beyond his closeknit circle, but when he pulled things like this it was his determination to protect those he loved, to protect everyone he possibly could.

He cared and he had a really good heart.

He just didn’t like people to recognize that, because he clearly thought it could be seen as a point of vulnerability and used against him and also mess with his hardass façade.

An ice-cold sensation shooting through my head jarred me. It had me grunting as it spread throughout my whole body and I shuddered.

“There,” Orpheus said, releasing me and taking a step back. “It’s done.” He blinked several times and then I saw that the black flecks were gone.

“Are you all right?” I asked, reaching out and grasping his arm.

He smiled out at me. “I’ll be fine. I promise. My father’s spell will start working now, weakening the hold of Constantine’s black magic, enough for you to break through.” He stepped into me and delved his hand into my hair, gazing at me adoringly. “You’re stronger than you know. You can absolutely do this, Alena. And, motherfuck, the three of us need you to.”

“It’s shit without you,” Talon said in that usual blunt way of his.

“It’s definitely lacking,” Xavier added in.

“We fucking miss you, little angel,” Orpheus burst out with, surprising us all at the vehemence of it, him effectively putting it all out there and showing his utter need for me, for the four of us to be reunited.

“I’ll do everything in my power to fight this.” I smiled out at them. “I wouldn’t do anything less for you.” I winked at them in a bid to lighten the mood. “Sweet things.”

They all chuckled at that and it was the best sound I’d heard in so long.

I sat down on the grass and patted the area around me, beckoning them to me.

We all settled, entangled in one another, Orpheus spooning me on my left side, Xavier on my right and resting his head on my breasts, and Talon with his head on Orpheus’ lap who stroked him with his free hand while Talon laid my legs over himself and rubbed them soothingly.

I played with Xavier’s thick hair and he tipped his head toward me, smiling peacefully. It was a far cry from what I’d seen of him last time. “You ran into the sun,” I found myself uttering, unable to keep it in check any longer.

I’d been so taken with them appearing here, and then the spell, that it had gotten lost in all the rest.

But it couldn’t. I couldn’t let it, and I wouldn’t. It was too important. To fucking worrying beyond belief.

“I’m sorry and even sorrier that you witnessed that.”

“You seem like your old self now, but is it real? You’re not putting on a brave front for me, are you? Because I’m trapped in here and infected with black magic?”

“I swear it, beautiful,” he said, taking my hand and giving it a squeeze. “Orpheus helped me and it shifted things in that respect. I’ll be okay.”

“He’s going to therapy really soon too,” Talon informed me.

“You are?”

“I am.”

“Good,” I breathed, nuzzling against him. “Really good. Thank fuck.”

“He’ll be okay,” Orpheus breathed at my ear. “You have my word.”

“Thank you, little prince,” I said, nuzzling my cheek against his.

We all laid there basking in each other, falling into a comfortable and contemplative silence.

And then I felt Orpheus shuddering against me.

I sat up, breaking our entanglement, to see him grimacing and in clear pain, struggling.

“You’ve stayed too long, haven’t you?”

---