Page 6 of Blood of Two Crowns

“How did Leilani become my mother?”

“I took you to her.”

“Why did she get rid of me?”

Miroslav’s gaze softened. That wasdefinitelypity in his eyes.

“That is a discussion you need to have with Zurie.”

Dread sank like an anvil in my gut. Even with my petulant Knowingness ignoring me, I knew that the truth I needed to learn would not be a welcome one.

“Your mother, Leilani, loves you the same as if you had been born of her blood, Nakoa. Letnothingdissuade you from that fact.”

I shifted to face away from him as some foreign sensation began to burn my eyes.

“You would do well to remember that it is because of her that you are even half the male you are. One day, you will learn just how much you truly owe her.”

The burning in my eyes swelled until saline streamed down my cheeks. Quickly wiping them away, I drew in a calming breath to quell the overwhelming tide of emotion.

“Why, exactly, have you come?”

“Two reasons. One, Thalia is not to be trusted. She hides her power, and I cannot enter her mind, nor am I able to gaze upon her past, present, or future potentialities. When I attempt to scry even her father, there is a block. The only beings powerful enough to evade my magic and my sight arethe gods.”

“That doesn’t include the descendants of demiurges?”

Miroslav frowned. “I certainly wouldn’t think so, not after so many generations… but I cannot be sure.”

I heaved a sigh, sinking further into the bathing pool.

“And what is the other matter of urgency?”

“Yoursoulboundneeds you,” he pressed.

As his words settled in a crushing weight settled on my chest.“Wrong.”

Footsteps sounded behind me until Miroslav stood in front of me, gaze searing into mine like white hot coals, as I failed towillmy ebon eyes to stop leaking water.

“Whether you’re willing to admit it or not doesn’t change the fact that your souls are entwined. You are weakened without one another. You willneedeach other if either of you plan to survive what is to come.”

Having no argument, I knew when to remain silent.

“I suggest you learn to see things from beyond your own narrow perspective and find forgiveness somewhere in that heart of yours before it is too late.Karma and fate are not synonymous entities, Nakoa. If you do not cherish thesoulbound Akashhas gifted you with, you shouldn’t be surprised when she is stolen from you.”

Chapter

Three

MAREINA

Waking up beside Malekai was the second-best thing to ever happen to me. Handsome features slack, his peaceful expression lent a certain lightness that I’d never witnessed in him. Laying beside Malekai like this, dressed only in one of his shirts, with his delicious heat pouring into me and his bare, broad and thickly muscled chest winking me in the face had me slick with desire.

Even my magic was writhing—both inside me and around me. Around us. Dark red tendrils whispered over his skin like they were trying to lick him. Taste him.

Willfully pushing away all thoughts of recent violence and turmoil, I was choosing to focus on the gift at hand. After all this time, I was finally lying beside the male I loved, revelling in his glorious presence. Perhaps it made me unforgivably selfish, but not only was I desensitized to death, I had spent my entire life forsaking the desires of my heart and, thus, my happiness. I refused to let it pass me by any longer.

Simply staring at him beside me in bed caused thisthingto wind tighter between us as if physically pulling me closer to him. Urging me to press my lips to his. For my hands to caress the thick, formidable length of his cock pressing against my abdomen and hip.

His sea salt and embers scent seemed to thicken in the air. My hips squirmed as my core clenched with need for him. A soft, low rumble purred from his chest as his hips shifted forward to drive closer to mine. My breath caught at the same moment his eyes popped open wide with shock.

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