Page 5 of Courting the King of Cliffs

“My magic yanked against my hold the entire time I was near her, and hers was so uncontrollable that it shook the earth. That’s not even remotely a possibility.”

“So you’re just going to let her live in your city, where you can feel her every move, without having a conversation with her?”

“Yes.” I clenched my jaw.

“You may as well dig your own grave, son,” Quake drawled.

“Then you can hand her the crown after you bury me.” I rose to my feet.

The push of my magic was getting too strong. If I didn’t do something to dissipate it, it’d drive me insane.

I transported to an empty desert without another word, sinking to my knees and burying my fists in the sand.

My magic poured out of me, shaking the ground and filling the cracks around me with a force that no one should’ve been capable of.

I didn’t want this magic.

I didn’t want this life.

And yet, there was no way out.

Chapter 3

Dove

Granite’s castle was blissfully quiet.

I slowly let myself relax into the chair I’d taken, and finally started decompressing from the months of stress and burnout.

I hadn’t been able to make eye contact with anyone since Reeve was born. I could look Harper and Storm’s baby in the eyes—he was too adorable not to. But everyone else? Not a chance.

Including Granite.

But the conversation had gone well. Or well enough, at least, because he was finding me a place to live, despite my shitty control over my magic.

And just knowing I’d be alone, in a quiet home where I wouldn’t be disturbed for a while, made me feel better.

After a few minutes, the door opened.

I tensed, dreading another conversation with the king, and tried to pull my power back under control.

A tall, curvy woman with long, wavy golden hair and bronze skin strode in. She held the arm of a gorgeous man with light brown skin and long, wavy black hair. Both of them were grinning.

Their expressions didn’t look devious.

I hoped maybe that meant Granite didn’t hate me any more than he had before I walked in.

“Hi,” I said, standing up. My arms went around my abdomen, but that grounded me a little, so I didn’t fight the reaction.

“You must be Dissiri. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” the woman said, her voice smooth and happy.

“Granite didn’t send you to tell me to go home, right?” I asked.

“Nah, we’re the welcoming committee.” The man gestured me closer, and I hesitated.

The woman flashed me a smile. “He might be terrible at showing it, but he’s glad to have you here. I swear.”

“Alright.” I let out a quick breath and walked up to them, fighting the urge to find an empty room and lock the door until my panic eased.

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