Page 157 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

Standing, I grabbed the hood of my cloak and pulled it up. I headed to a small table off to the side, away from the door Reggie, Miska, and Orym went through. I pulled the wooden chair out and sat down, but I didn’t have to wait long. The tavern door swung open, and the ground shook.

“Greetings, civilians of Youl. We are here searching for an escaped fugitive recently sighted in this area. We received reports of her being nearby.”

I cursed. It was probably the guy whose balls I burnt when he tried to get handsy at that damn gym.

I didn’t move, keeping my back turned toward them. Armored boots stomped across the floor, soldiers checking every patron. Everyone focused on the deep-voiced man, and I knew he had displayed an image of me when all eyes turned toward me.

Well, I hope it was at least a good picture.

I kept my eyes down, watching as numerous pairs of boots surrounded my small table. One soldier grumbled, and I knew this was about to get bloody. I heard heavy footfalls and felt someone stop behind me.

“I am Tedar, Commander of the Eighth Legion, and you are hereby detained under the rule of the highest.”

I tapped my nails on the table and looked up at the two soldiers glaring at me from across the table. Sighing, I scooted my chair back and turned toward the commander, ignoring his flunkies. I nodded and crossed one leg over the other. “Oh, yeah? Who is the highest?”

Tedar laughed a full belly laugh before slamming his hand down on the table hard enough to crack it. “You’re funny. Funny doesn’t last long.”

My nose scrunched. “Apparently, neither does soap.”

Tedar’s soldiers gulped. I doubted many beings spoke to their troll commander with such disregard.

Rage bloomed in his large eyes. “She will not mind if you come back a little bruised.”

He pulled back his arm, his massive fist aiming for my head. I spun and picked up the chair I was sitting in, slamming it across his thick, armored arm. Tedar laughed as it broke into pieces.

“Was that supposed to hurt, girl?” He laughed again, looking at his guards.

“No,” I said, “but this will.”

I twirled the broken chair leg in my hand before sending it sailing toward him. It hit him square in the center of his forehead with a loud thunk. His smile dropped as his eyes crossed. He raised one hand and touched his head before falling like a felled tree.

I dusted my hands off and casually turned to face the soldiers. They all stood gaping at me, gripping their weapons.

“Come on,” I said. “You’re actually doing me a favor. I’ve had a shitty few days.”

SIXTY-THREE

SAMKIEL

I had worked for three days straight, carving pieces off that damn mountain and rebuilding. I glanced at my hands. They were all healed now, the silver rings gleaming under the moonlight. My entire body still ached, but I deserved it. I’d felt her cry after I sent her away, and I hated myself for it. I would rather rip my heart from my chest and shred it myself than ever hurt her, but I was so . . . My resolve reasserted itself. I needed to get this taken care of. Then, the emotions could come.

My boots slapped against the small puddles that accumulated along the cobblestones, the rain coming down in sheets. People ran past me, seeking shelter. It was a universal truth that most beings hated the rain and would hide, giving me the perfect coverage. Water soaked my hooded cloak, but I barely noticed as I strode forward.

Lights sparked from the safety of their intricate metal lanterns, blue and white smoke floating skyward. I carefully descended the half-broken steps and wove through the streets, staying in the shadows in this rundown part of town.

I slipped my hand into my pocket, finding the small stone and rubbing my fingers over it. That had been my first stop, and this was the second. I turned down a dark alley. Barrels, overflowing with discarded animal flesh and bone from the nearby restaurants, reeked of rot. A few eight-legged creatures scurried to the sides as I approached. They raised their double tails and hissed at me, warning me off their trash trove.

Music flooded the end of the alley, and the sound of voices grew louder. A sign hung over the door, the letters from the old language carved into the rusted metal. Brothel. Two towering figures stopped when they saw me approaching. A curl of smoke left one’s lips as the other gave me a toothy grin, displaying his serrated teeth. I gazed at them steadily and looked away as I passed.

I paused before the weathered gray door, praying to the old gods he was here. Gathering information while trying to keep a low profile turned out to be harder than I expected. Everything had changed since Nismera took these realms. So many beautiful places were nothing more than rubble now, and it seemed that brothels had become the places that everyone ran to, both to forget and conduct business. Criminals and businessmen alike turned a blind eye to each other here. They were worn down like all the realms she ruled over, tired, hungry, and ruined.

I sighed and squared my shoulders before pushing the door open. Carnal sounds of pleasure could be heard above the music, but that was not why I was there. The outside of this building was an illusion. Inside, it was a massive column, the center open space with rooms lining the floors both above and below.

I moved past a topless waitress, balancing a tray on her feathered tail. She handed glasses out to a group of men. Moans and grunts of pleasure filled the air, some from behind closed doors, some tucked into the darkened alcoves.

I paused in front of one of the viewing rooms. A woman was suspended upside down while a male wrapped his arms around her middle and buried his face between her legs. Their sounds of pleasure and need had me licking my lips, imagining Dianna spread before me like that. I wondered how long it would take Dianna to forgive me for leaving before she let me attempt that maneuver.

“Are you looking for something in particular, gorgeous?” a voice purred from behind me.

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