The Divine and the Cursed (Fae of Alastríona, #1)

by J.E. Reed

“Maybe, but isn’t it worth the risk?” He raised a brow. “To hurt?” “To love.”

What if this male was the only one she’d ever yearn for like this? What if he was the only one to make her heart race the way it was racing right now?

“You? You think you could be the one to love the monster?”

“You just have to trust me.” He let out a breath, showering her in his scent. “You ask the one thing I find impossible.” His eyes remained locked with hers. Hungry. Full of desire. “But I can try.”

But she’d never get enough of him. Not in this lifetime or the next.

She wanted this male, this dominant, yet gentle male, to be hers. She wanted to claim him in every way and show the world how wrong they were.

“The Divine and the Cursed. How fitting.”

Rion. The general of Brónach’s army. Her greatest enemy and the most feared warrior in Alastríona had just kissed her.

And she knew, deep in her bones, that if these males tried to hurt him, she’d kill to keep Rion alive.

Never in his life had he felt rage like what coursed through him now. Not when his father’s loving gaze turned cold. Not when the male who promised to protect him lied. And not when a female he’d developed feelings for put a knife in his back.

His clenched his fists. Someone had taken her from him. Someone had taken his Arianna. And he’d ensure their suffering rivaled his own.

He didn’t smile, nor did he offer a shred of comfort, only an unspoken, icy promise. No mercy.

He was smiling. He was killing warrior after warrior, his own people, and Rion was smiling.

Arianna’s body shook but she lunged at another male, grabbed his arm, and screamed as she tore the liquid from his body.

Her hands were meant to heal. She was supposed to bring peace to the land, not this.

Never once has anyone allowed me to touch them like this. No one. Except you.”

Arianna felt like someone had struck her. Anything, she realized. Rion would give her anything.

She felt like every color, constantly spinning, never settling in one place, because this feeling, this love was too strong to be confined to a single color. It was infinite and ever-growing, stretching beyond the veils of space and time, and she’d never, ever tire of it.

Her mother had described the bond once. She’d told her daughters it was a feeling deep in the soul. An uncontrollable need for another life force and without them, you couldn’t breathe. But that’s exactly how she felt about Rion. Except, the cord was missing.

Let them discover who she really was. Let every Fae in all Alastríona know the legends were true. The Divine was real, and she’d finally taken up her name.

At this point, he’d give her anything. No matter what it cost him. And he’d never leave again. To hell with the war. To hell with his country. The only thing he needed was sleeping right beside him.

“The Dark Fae aren’t so different from the Fairy Folk. They’ve simply been forced to defend themselves from a society plagued by fear.”

“Maybe I hoped the monsters would welcome one of their own.”

Without lifting a finger, you could shatter me completely.”

Hers. He was hers and only hers. Forever.

No matter what challenges they’d have to face, she wanted this male at her side. “I want you.”

He tasted of salt and pain, but she devoured it all. And in that moment, Arianna made a vow. She swore she’d never let Rion feel alone again. Not so long as she lived. Because he was hers to protect now and she was his.

“You’re not real.” Her brow creased. “You’re an ethereal dream come to torment me, granting every wish only to strip them away when I’m content. You’re the beautiful wave before it crashes over the shore, dragging everything out to an icy sea.” His voice lowered. “You’re my salvation and my damnation.”

A queen didn’t get to pick favorites. She’d save every single Fae that crossed her path, no matter how seemingly violent or foul.

Damn the ancient texts, damn Alastríona, and damn this war. She’d live for nothing and no one except Rion.

He deserved to yearn for her, to hear about her for the rest of his life, and never be able to see her beautiful face. Because The Demon Lord of Brónach should never have fallen for a Lady of Móirín.

This wasn’t happiness, this was sorrow and unending pain. Part of him felt as though he’d taken her prisoner, clasping shackles around her heart instead of her wrists.

Arianna was the light in the darkness. What did one do when the light faded?

Familiar and foreign. A land that haunted him with hostile memories, yet carried those most precious. A place he strove to avoid and a home he yearned for.

How could he have been such a fool? Arianna was The Divine and he most certainly wasn’t her mate. He should have taken her back to Móirín the first time his heart skipped. Maybe then it wouldn’t feel as heavy as it did now.

He’d never see a look of trust from another being’s eyes for as long as he lived. Because Arianna was the only one who’d ever seen past the monster.

Home. But when had home started feeling more like a prison?

They spoke of legends, of a female from Móirín that The Demon guarded fiercely.

Please. Curse him, hate him, let his soul be devoured by the worst creatures imaginable. Just please don’t touch her.

Arianna’s heart clenched as emerald eyes slid to meet hers and that cord, that bond she’d been denying, sprang to life. It braided itself together, weaving between her and the male until it was so strong, Arianna was certain no blade could ever sever it.

He didn’t stop, and every fiber in Arianna’s body screamed at her to protect the male in her arms. To protect her mate.

He wasn’t anymore cursed to his magic than she was to hers. Magic was magic; having a different sort didn’t mean you’d bring destruction upon the world.

Had she arrived a few minutes later, she might have lost him forever. And then she’d have nothing, absolutely nothing.

“The time I’ve spent without you has tormented my soul.”

“I love you, Rion. I will always love you, no matter what you’ve done.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “You will never, never have to spend another day in this life alone. I won’t allow it.”

“The shadows are gathering. I hope you’re prepared for another war.”