The Curse that Binds (Bewitched #2.5)

by Laura Thalassa

Yes, well, you’re less terrifying as Roxi, Memnon says. Roxilana might cut my heart out of my chest, but Roxi…Roxi sounds like…a friend.

No, est menulumguva amage,⁠8 Memnon says, they were merely preparing you. I frown in the darkness. Preparing me for what? Us.

Vak busu dat dit kuppu sutvuvu evu di’nuvak, pesa suvup azakupusa. Pesa udugab vesamapusa.⁠1

You are the only thing that matters to me in this godsforsaken world. The confession burns coming out, but it doesn’t matter. There is iron in my soul. I won’t let you die, Memnon. Not today.

So long as I am alive, you will never die, I vow. I won’t lose Memnon like I did my family.

Like I could conquer the world just to lay it all at your feet. His voice turns serious. Roxi, you are my first and last thought each day. I have longed for you more than I care to admit—not just as my friend and confidant but also as my lover and wife and amage.

No, little witch, he finally says. I hear his ominous laugh. You won’t be marrying anyone besides me. His voice is confident and uncompromising. I am coming for you. I will leave tomorrow at first light, and I will get there before a wedding takes place. And when I do, he continues, I will make graves of these grooms and anyone else who comes between us. Violent delight threads his words. You’re mine.

Hope might be a god, but it is such a capricious, fickle one. It feels like it could gut me alive at any moment.

unignorable.

“My eyes have waited years to see you.” His gaze deepens. “But it was worth the wait.”

“I have crossed rivers and kingdoms, I have fought armies and bandits to be here before you. For you are mine and I am yours, and those are my soul’s deepest truths.”

“I rode for two months so that I might feel your embrace.” His eyes dance like fire. “Of course you can touch me.”

“So fucking beautiful,” he whispers to himself. He says it so intimately, like we’re tangled with each other in bed and not out here on this bleak battlefield. Those words undo me.

My brows pull together, and then I begin to laugh in disbelief. He’s half dead and weak from blood loss, and he’s making sex jokes.