Chapter One

I reached up to stretch my arms over my head then sighed heavily and relaxed as I let them fall to my sides. My skin was sun-kissed golden bronze, and my cheeks flushed pink from time spent in the sun. An extended beach vacation was exactly what I needed after I found out I lived a lie for three years. Try as I might, I was unable to fill the hole in my heart caused by the betrayal of my best friends, Madison and Daniel. I was unable to forgive and forget, and I couldn’t ease the scorn. It would have been easy to touch the diamond-shaped tattoo on the inside of my wrist and whisper a cathartic cast to erase my inner turmoil, but I needed to feel it. I needed the pain to feel alive. Without the pain, there was numb hollowness.

I sat down on the white, fluffy sand and watched as the slight, cool waves rolled over my legs. Lying back on the soft sand, I flipped my arm over to examine my golden Bruxa tattoo talisman more closely. The small, wispy glow emanating from it only served to remind me of the curse I enacted that turned both of my so-called friends to stone. I shivered at the life-altering memory and quickly realized it had grown cooler while I wandered around with my thoughts.

“Are you going to bake out here all day?” Malakai quipped. His large form stood over me, casting a shadow that encompassed my entire body. I only saw his outline, backlit from the sun. I smiled up at him to hide my thoughts. I had also been trying to forget about the other person I sentenced to stone―Xander, my ex-boyfriend of sorts.

“You’re in my light, mister. Don’t make me use my own.” I raised my wrist playfully and let a small amount of golden light shine up at him. I sat up as he settled next to me. He grabbed my hand with more force than was necessary.

“Put that away. You don’t need it, anymore,” he said in his usual precise, controlled manner. I was a Bruxa—a light witch. He knew it wasn’t about needing magic but about my desire to keep it. It was a part of me. I squeezed his fingers tightly in my own.

“I know that, but sometimes, it’s fun to use a little on straight-laced humans,” I said. He shook his head at me and gazed off into the ocean, his face unreadable. Malakai’s profile was perfect. His face was gruff, because he neglected to shave for a few days—just the way I liked it. His sandy-blonde hair, mussed in a carefree way, and his eyes were the color of the deepest blue sea. He wore a pair of navy-colored board shorts and nothing else. Kai sensed my gaze and peeked at me playfully without turning his head.

“What are you thinking about, now? Should I be worried?” he asked. I laughed out loud. He wasn’t used to normal Sam—the Sam who wasn’t being chased by the Bruxa Patrol or trying to escape the clutches of Jade. She was the leader and the Eldest of Cadiza, the Bruxa commune in Portugal I grew up in. I stroked the side of his face gently. The Sam these days only wanted one thing—him.

“I was just thinking how utterly perfect you are. Why do you ask? I’m on vacation. I’ve officially hung up my black combat boots for the time being.” I winked at him suggestively and ran my wandering hand down his hardy biceps. He knew my standard dress was ass-kicking apparel. There usually wasn’t another option, but with Jade in stone form, I had little to worry about―until the Elders in Cadiza realized I was the one responsible for her disappearance. I tried to push that thought to the back of my mind, but it kept popping up. It reminded me that the short leash I was currently on wasn’t permanent.

I watched his large biceps flex as he hoisted me on his lap to face him. I ran my fingers down the length of his arms to trace his muscles with the lightest of touches.

“I realized the boots are gone. The clothes, too…” he said while running two fingers under each side of my halter-bikini top. His voice deepened, and his gaze turned to fire. He brushed my hair back and lightly touched my collarbone.

“I’ll be honest. I can’t say I miss any of it,” he said. His hands on my skin were like a type of magic I never felt before. Only Malakai elicited an immediate response from my body in that carnal, supreme way. It was normal and pure. The feelings I felt for the man in front of me were that of undiluted love—love not tainted by magic or a spell. I ran my fingers through his coarse, thick hair and pressed our warm bodies close. Our skin mixed together to make the perfect degree of heat. I pecked his lips gently with a chaste kiss to keep from getting distracted before trailing my mouth down his chest. Inhaling deeply, the smell of my coconut tanning lotion mingling with his muted cologne from the day before rewarded me. Kai tried to stifle a groan as I smiled winningly up at him. His lips parted, and his breaths were shallow. Malakai was trying to control himself. I continued my assault down lower and then halted at the edge of his shorts. He held his breath and stilled immediately.

“You smell delicious,” I whispered to him, hardly able to control my body’s reaction. “I have an idea. Are you game?” He raised his eyebrows, undoubtedly waiting for one of my insane plans. He studied me critically then bemused approval crossed his face. He was always a man of very few words, but he was even less inclined to speak when he wanted something—me. It was as if he didn’t trust his words to convey exactly how badly he desired me. His perfect body and skilled hands all but made up for his silence. It turned me on the second I saw his heated gaze raking my body. I lowered my lashes.

“Shall we take this into the water?” I asked coquettishly. Malakai ran a hand over his mouth and cocked his head in challenge. He didn’t hesitate as he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. He jogged gently into the surf and slammed me into the water with the ease of a water buffalo. When I surfaced, spluttering, he towered in front of me. The water darkened his blonde hair. Droplets clung to his thick, black eyelashes. He impaled me with a heady look as he bit his bottom lip, waiting for me to make the first move. I felt the thrill of frightened anticipation but played at mock outrage as I admired his perfect, toned body.

“Just because I’m a Bruxa does not mean I’m made of stone…” I let my sentence trail off as I realized what I said. Stone. I had cursed my friends into stone. I let my smile slip as Malakai came forward to rest his hands on my hips. I knew how upset I looked, because concern immediately transfixed his face. Way to kill the mood, Sam.

“It’s okay. You were just joking around. Don’t get upset, Samantha.” He skimmed his large, rough hands up the sides of my body and let them rest on each side of my face. I hesitated, torn by conflicting emotions.

“I’m okay,” I answered automatically. It was a lie. I stared into his eyes and tried to get lost in a different memory but it didn’t fool him.

“No, you’re not okay. Madison and Daniel were your best friends. As hard as it is for me to admit, Xander was a good guy. He was your Bruxa match. He just got caught up in Jade’s evil plans. You had to use that curse. You had to know who was loyal to you. Unfortunately, it was the only way to find out the truth.” Malakai dropped his hands from my face and laced his fingers behind his head. He looked down into the water.

“I’m just sorry for the part I played in it. Whether it was to keep you safe or not…you still suffered from it,” he said. I choked back a sob as a small wave passed by. Malakai’s head was still down. He couldn’t bring himself to look at me. My heart gaped open. The stab wound on my back was still ragged and raw. I still suffered with unending pain. Kai was the only one who escaped my curse. He was the only one whose heart was loyal to me. I felt guilty for being upset, because it made him upset as well.

“Don’t cry. You know what that does to me.” He thumbed a tear out of the corner of my eye. “The curse is lessening each day. Kellan visited them in the dark realm last week. He said it wouldn’t be much longer.” He peered up at me to see if I was upset, but I already knew that tidbit of information. Kai’s identical twin brother Kellan was a dark witch. He was a soulless, snarky, drunken asshole who I somehow relied on when I got into sticky situations. I asked him to keep me abreast of my curse’s aftereffects, but I didn’t want Kai aware of my involvement.

“Well, then. We’ll have to figure something out soon, won’t we?” I dodged acknowledging that I knew by asking a question and then another.

“Where is Kellan these days, anyway?” I grabbed Malakai’s hand and led him into deeper water as our conversation veered from my internal torment. He gladly followed until we were chest deep. He snaked his other hand around my waist and brushed his fingers underneath my bikini bottom ties. It sent a delicious shiver up my spine.

“Getting drunk and plotting the demise of all the Elders and probably Cadiza…or maybe just getting drunk. Yeah, he’s probably just getting drunk.” The only good thing about Kellan was that he hated the Bruxa government and Cadiza just as much as I did. It was our only common bond other than Malakai. I wondered how long we could keep our distracted conversation going.

“Enough about Kellan. It was your plan to come in this water.” He raised one eyebrow and whispered in a smooth voice, “Let’s play.” He reminded me by splashing his palms down and spraying us both with salty ocean, and a smug half-smile stretched across his face. It was a challenge. The beach was desolate, as it was since we arrived weeks earlier. It was our personal playground for us to take full advantage of. Not taking my gaze off his, I peeled off my bright-yellow bikini bottom and held it up in front of his face before boldly letting the neon material float away with the mild current. Malakai slid his gaze downward, slowly and seductively, and then inhaled sharply. I pressed my lips into a sexy smile and batted my lashes before sliding beneath the cool water to tackle his board-shorts. I stroked my hands against his sturdy, sculpted body and loosened the tie of the shorts.

He caressed the back of my head lightly. I responded by releasing him from his shorts. I grazed my lips over him lightly and tasted the warm, salty seawater as it swirled in my mouth. Springing away from him playfully, I kicked off the ocean floor to head in the opposite direction. A game of cat and mouse was definitely in order. I bobbed back to the surface, out of breath and not nearly as far away as I intended. Kai hadn’t moved. His hands were on his hips, and he looked obviously displeased at being teased. His stony face promised punishment, and I wanted it.

“You’re not going to come get me?” I shouted breathlessly, feeling victorious. “I thought I gave you enough reason to chase,” she said. I shrugged my shoulders and studied his face. He was turned on. He wanted me…he wanted more. He flared his nostrils as he regarded me quizzically and looked broodingly through hooded eyes.

“You’ve been running for years, now. Forgive me for not wanting to chase you now that I finally have you,” he growled. I was chastened. He had a point. He pressed his full, wet lips into a firm line. I rolled my eyes and sunk below the waves in defeat. I deliberated whether I should spell him with an emotion-control cast but decided against using cathartic magic for fear of upsetting him. He wasn’t fond of having his emotions toyed with. I supposed no one was. I swayed with the waves underwater and could scarcely remember a time when I was as carefree and relaxed as I was in that moment. When I came up for a breath, Kai was looming over me.

“You chased me after all,” I said as I jumped up to wrap my legs around his waist. I laced my fingers through his wet hair and brought my forehead to rest on his. He grasped my thighs and pulled me tightly to him, teasing me. His board-shorts were gone. There was nothing between us. Clothing aside, all hindrances and lies vanished. There was only the two of us and our love for one another. After years of longing for this man, I finally had him. He was mine for the taking.

“I’ll always chase you. I’ll always come back to you. I want to be with you, forever.” His words blazed directly to my heart as it began to thud loudly against my chest. I slanted my mouth over his and kissed him passionately. The taste of salty ocean water was on our lips and the light, warm breeze wrapped us like a blanket. Malakai deftly unhooked my bikini top and tossed it away without breaking our kiss. I greedily pushed our bare bodies together to feel the warmth only two naked bodies can make. I felt a delicious chill run up my spine as I tilted my chin back, eyes closed, to receive the tender kisses he placed on the hollow of my neck. He loosened his grip on my legs and let my bottom slide down ever so slightly until I rested right on top of him. Biting my lip in anticipation, I watched his face change from loving adoration to something more intense—something raw and primal. He let one side of his mouth quirk up when he realized I was waiting, just as turned on as he was.

“Wait. Maybe you want me to chase you some more?” he asked through clenched, white teeth. His gaze was piercing as he waited for me to answer. My breathing was rapid. Watching Kai’s chest rise and fall in succession let me know we were on the same page. I could not believe he was playing hard to get.

“What do you want?” he asked with the same, hurried determination. My mind was hazy. I only wanted one thing. It was the same thing I always wanted.

“No…no more games. I want you, now. Please,” I said while struggling to gain control of my body. It was useless. His hands were locked in a vice grip on my legs. It was going to be on his terms. The warm beach water was cold compared to the temperature of my body. Everything below my belly button quivered as he teased me by sliding my body up and down, slowly rocking me closer and closer to what I desired. His eyes closed in utter concentration. I knew it took all his self-control to not give in and take me the way he had so many times before.

“I love you so much. Take me,” I whimpered as I embraced the passion I so desperately craved. His eyes flew open at my admission, and he responded immediately by leaning down to be closer to me.

“No, I love you,” he whispered into my ear, his lips lingering on my earlobe. With his hands now on my rear, he pulled me onto him and sunk his erection as deep as it would go. I threw my head back in blissful release as his mouth found mine to muffle my passion. We sunk below the inky blackness of the ocean water, lustfully entwined with each another. The only light in sight was my golden diamond tattoo talisman that was uncontrollable in any moment filled with emotion. The glowing light didn’t set a romantic ambiance. It made me aware I was unnatural. I was a Bruxa, and Malakai was a human. Even in the most blissful moments, I was aware I was on borrowed time. I had to pay the piper and deal with the repercussions of what my magic did. The only difference this time was that I had a taste of exactly what it was I was fighting for, and it was something I would never let go of…not again. It was the closest thing to humanity I could possibly ever have.

Malakai.