The Unbound Witch (Unmarked, #2)

by Miranda Lyn

“There you are, my love. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“I would have wished for your happiness, Raven Moonstone.”

Grey tucked a finger under my chin and forced me to look up at him. And for a moment, a sliver of a second, it was Bastian standing before me, forcing my eyes to his as he so loved to do. But the memory was gone as quickly as it had come, and Grey jerked away from me, no doubt remembering that I was the murderer.

The weapon is not to blame for the action of the wielder.

“There’s no magic here. The panic attacks, the headache earlier, the bloody nose now… I don’t think you’re supposed to be in the human lands, Raven.”

“My heart hurts.” I said, because it did. And I just needed someone else to know that I was not okay.

“I think I would have loved him, Kir. We just didn’t get the time.”

“I have to let him go,” I whispered. “But I don’t think my heart is ready.” “You have a lifetime to let him go. You can hold on a little longer.”

The world stopped rotating. Time suspended as I stared at the man I thought I’d never see again. A crown of thick, dark hair pulled back from his face, that perfectly trimmed beard a bit more disheveled than normal, but otherwise, everything else was exactly right. The eyes, the perfect pout to his bottom lip even in anger, the casual way he stood. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe as I stared at him, so real, and yet it couldn’t be.

“You lied. And lied. You watched me suffer, cry, mourn you to the point of sickness and exhaustion. And you just …”

“It wasn’t a game to me. Every moment you had with Grey was authentically me. The only difference was the mask I wore. Those moments are still ours.”

“I tried. When you had your panic attack at Grey’s touch, when I saw what that did to you, I knew. But the hunters came. I’ve wanted to tell you so many times, Raven. All Hallows Eve, I thought I would confess that day, later at the cabin. But by then, you’d already ensnared me, and I couldn’t risk losing you if you knew the truth.”

“As long as you live at the end of this, I don’t care what the circumstances are.” “True. I guess it doesn’t matter what the rules are. You’ve never been one to stick to them anyway.”

“I'm just a Moon witch with a bad attitude.”

The Dark King was insatiable as he fell to his knees before me, lifting a thigh over his shoulder and pressing his lips over me, stroking with his tongue, hitting that spot in a perfect cadence.

“We could stay, Little Witch. It’s safe here.” I wrapped my arms around him, looking up to those beautiful silver eyes. “It’s not really safe anywhere, Bastian.” “I know,” he whispered. “Not yet.”

I shared a glance with her, thinking I'd see hesitation there, maybe the empathy she'd always held for Nikos renewed. But there was nothing but fire in her eyes. A woman scorned.

I relented, closing my eyes to stay the magic. “Sorry. I didn't mean—” “No.” Grey moved in front of me, lifting my chin with his fingers. “Someone pulls a weapon on you, you don’t stop to ask questions. You fucking defend yourself. And you never, ever apologize for being the most powerful witch around.”

I no longer lived in a cruel world. I lived amongst cruel people who would spill blood, if only to enrich their own.

He snorted once before covering Nik’s little dick with his shadows.

He shook his head frantically, for the first time ever, finally seeing Raven for the witch she was. She’d always been kind, but the fire within her had also always been there. I’d never been so proud.

You’re mad. You’re so fucking mad, you can’t stand being around anyone most of the time. I see you, Kirsi. You suffer. But you are not alone.”

“This is supposed to be a training lesson,” he rumbled into my ear. “Then why are you getting your ass kicked?” “Because, Little Witch, you are a delicious distraction.”

I believe you’re staring, Miss Moonstone.

“The most important part of a relationship with a shifter is embracing all versions of him.”

Emerald eyes practically glowed in the shadowed room as he lowered his head, feasting as he’d asked permission to do. Not as a king, but a man.

“Grey or Bastian. Your choice.” “If this is some wicked Trial of yours, I’m going to fail,” I answered. He huffed a laugh. “Choose.” “Grey,” I breathed.

“You are my only weakness,” he breathed into my ear. “My only equal. My only future. A year ago, I would have given my life to keep this world from burning. And now, I’d sooner light the world on fire and watch it burn than see you suffer its wrath. You’ve changed everything. I think I’ve fallen in love with you, Little Witch. In fact, I don’t think I’ll ever stop falling.”

My heart broke for him. When would the dying stop?