Unleashed: The Cursed Trilogy, Book Two by Betty Legend (little bear else holmelund minarik .TXT) 📗

to my resort. We’ll enjoy a suite to ourselves for a weekend.”

“I’d love that.”

“Me too.” Caressing the side of my face, he tucks my hair behind my ear.

“I don’t want to leave this moment, but we should get back out there.”

His jaw flexes before he kisses me. “I’m not ready to share you.”

It’s harder than I thought to have a relationship with each of them. They all want time alone with me and worry about the others’ connections with me.

Putting my hands on his cheeks, I kiss him with the love I feel in my heart.

“I can feel tensions rising between all of you. I need you to know I love you. You never have to worry about where we stand. I genuinely love all of you equally and don’t favor time with anyone. I want the time with Killian because the four of us have had weeks together, but Killian and I have had much less time together.”

“I understand, my love.” Griffin gathers a hand, kissing my fingertips. “You don’t have to worry about me getting jealous and losing my senses.”

“Thank you, I needed to hear that. I don’t want fights between any of you.”

“I can’t promise that.” He throws a thumb over his shoulder. “Some of them are pumping with raging testosterone.”

I laugh, and he nudges my nose with his, then kisses the tip.

“You’re so beautiful.”

“So are you.”

With a final kiss, we separate, clean up, and smooth our clothes before leaving the bathroom. Passing the kitchen, the drinks my mom and Griffin made are gone. As we enter the living room, everyone is holding a glass, including Cyrus. Behind his black glasses, his alluring hazel eyes shimmer with silver upon seeing me.

“Cyrus!”

Setting the cocktail glass down, he passes the couch and hugs me.

“Hello, gorgeous.”

Soft sensual lips close over mine, the taste of rum and Cyrus swirling on my tongue. Pulling back, he keeps an arm around me and stands at my side.

“I’ve become acquainted with your mom and Rachel while you and Griffin were busy.” He winks at me, and I’m so relieved there isn’t jealousy beneath his tone.

“I’m so glad you’re all here.”

Leaning toward Cyrus, I kiss his cheek. Griffin joins Killian and Rachel on the couch. My mom is in one of the sitting chairs, Emeric is in the other. Someone brought two dining chairs into the living room. I take one, and Cyrus moves the other closer and sits next to me. The next hour, the glasses empty as Rachel and Mom have fun asking questions. It feels incredible to have my whole family together in the living room, yet there’s a nagging feeling in the pit of my gut that Phoenix should be here. I wonder what he’s doing and if he’s thought of me at all. Cyrus catches me drifting off in thought and rubs my back.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, his voice low.

“Nothing, just got lost in my thoughts.” I give him a forced smile, but his eyes tell me he’s not buying it.

“Are we all staying here tonight?”

“I hope you all will.”

With another caress down my back, he eases the tension tightening my muscles.

“Of course, I will. I’ve missed you the last week.”

“I’ve missed you too.” Putting my hand on his thigh, I massage his leg. “How was work? What did you do?

“I was busy grading papers most of the week, but what’s more interesting is I acquired another artifact for my collection.”

“Really? What did you find?”

“An angel’s blade.”

Emeric sits up in his chair, his attention leaving his current conversation and snapping to ours.

“Does it have engravings on it?”

“It does.” Cyrus pulls his phone out of his back pocket and retrieves an image. Emeric leaves his chair to look at it. Cyrus angles his phone, and Emeric takes it, then zooms in on the image. Jaw tight, Emeric’s eyes glisten with emotion.

“What do you want for it?”

“What’s your interest in it?”

Emeric hands the phone back to Cyrus. “It belonged to my mother.”

The room goes silent.

“In that case, I don’t want anything for it. It should be in your possession.”

The corner of Emeric’s mouth lifts. “Do you mind if we return to your house to retrieve it?”

“No, I don’t mind.” Cyrus stands, and with a raised hand, he creates a portal, and the two disappear through it.

“That will never get old,” Rachel says aloud, staring at the space they once stood.

With the room a cozy temperature, my mom reaches for the remote next to her and turns off the fireplace.

“It’s been a pleasure spending time with all of you, but I’m ready for bed. I’ll see, well, I assume, I’ll see all of you tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, it’s very likely,” Griffin smiles at her. “Thank you for your hospitality.”

“Of course. You are all welcome anytime.” Passing me, she gives me a kiss on the cheek, then goes upstairs.

Sliding onto Griffin’s lap, I rest my legs on Killian’s. The two of them are rubbing me when Emeric and Cyrus return. All eyes are attracted to the glinting sword Emeric has in his hand. It’s long and appears deadly sharp, with beautifully carved runes in the metal of the blade and on the handle. As he raises it, the runes light up, glowing red among the silver of the blade. He swings it, gets a feel of the weight of it, then Rachel and I jump as the blade blazes with fire. Emeric appears equally shocked as he stares at it.

“I didn’t know it did that.” Staring at it, he smooths his hands over the blade, and the flames subside.

“Think it recognizes your mother’s magic inside you?”

“It must.”

He rubs a thumb over the rune closest to his finger, and the sword shifts, metal clanging as it minimizes itself into the handle. We all stare in awe as he rubs his thumb over the same rune. The sword shifts, clangs, and extends to its full magnificence.

“This is badass.” Emeric grins. “I need something to carry it in.”

“We can shop in the Fae market,” Griffin suggests. “If they