Page 64 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

My leg shot out, kicking a large piece of wood. It sailed through the air, hitting a tree and splintering, nearly missing the hobbled form that had just stepped from the forest. He clutched his fishing pole, took one look at me, at Reggie, and the pile of dead soldiers before he took off running.

My lip curled in a snarl. “And he heard too much.”

Reggie called after me as I sped across the forest floor. The man dropped his supplies, ditching them as he headed straight for the village. It took little effort for me to outpace him. I stood in his path, and he ran straight into me, falling to the ground. He crawled back and raised one hand in a pathetic attempt to ward me off. I lifted him and sank my fangs into his neck, feeding deep. Reggie approached, and I dropped the fisherman, allowing him to fall to the ground with a thud.

“Dianna,” Reggie rubbed his forehead, “I am merely concerned for you, that is all. You have progressed so well. I merely do not wish to see you regress.”

“I know. It’s just that I love him, Reggie. Like real stupid, mushy love, and now I am afraid I won’t get to tell him.” I wiped my chin on my sleeve. “He didn’t even remember dying in the tunnel or what we said . . . I’m just—”

Miska hummed from a few feet away, her small feet silent over the forest floor. Reggie and I turned, both of us shifting to stand in front of the body as she emerged from the brush. “There you guys are. I found some more herbs we can use . . . Dianna, why is your face red?”

I wiped my hand across my mouth. “I ate the guards.”

Miska looked at me and shrugged. “Okay. Are we leaving now? Did you find where Samkiel is?”

Reggie cleared his throat and said, “Let’s go into town and get you some food, yes? Dianna will catch up.”

She nodded and turned to head back to the town. Reggie didn’t speak to me as he followed. I dragged the fisherman’s body back to where I left the soldiers and set them aflame, staying as the ashes floated toward the burning sun.

COLD AIR WHISPERED AROUND US AS WE WALKED DOWN THE BUSY street. Along the wooden piers, fishermen laughed together, others yelled as they tossed crates and bags off boats, and people were out buying food at the small shops.

Reggie tossed some coins I had taken from the dead soldiers to a vendor. Miska bounced toward me with a small sack of treats in hand, telling me how she would save enough to give Samkiel when we found him since we were so close.

Her enthusiasm and kindness seemed to stoke the flames burning in my chest. Her thoughtfulness reminded me so much of Gabby. I said nothing, just smiled as we left and headed deeper into the village. Even with the amount of commerce happening in this village, the people still wore scraps of fabric wrapped around themselves in layers. This town was struggling, like so many we had been to.

“Nismera’s rule seems bleak,” I said, breaking the silence between us. Reggie had been quiet since we left the woods.

“She only cares for herself,” he said, his eyes finally meeting mine.

“Is that a jab at me?”

“Your first instinct should not be to kill.” He pursed his lips like a disappointed father. “There are other options.”

“I feel like you forget who you are talking to. Did you not spend months with me? I’m not the merciful one. That’s Sam . . .” I cleared my throat, afraid to even mention his name in case a guard or someone would overhear. “He is.”

“Dianna.”

“I’d do it for you, too, if I had to. To keep you safe. What do you think happens if someone runs their mouth and we get caught? You think she will be kind to the fate who betrayed her and survived? Or what about the last living Jade City healer? Do you think she’d welcome a child into her ranks?”

Miska smiled at me, holding her satchel tighter as we wove through the crowd. Reggie, against his better judgment, let his eyes soften, and I could have sworn a corner of his lip twitched under his hooded cloak. I wondered if the fate had ever had friends before, much less anyone willing to protect him.

I pulled the hood a fraction higher over my head. “So yes, I’ll be the bad guy. I’ll be the one you can all judge or hate, but I’ll still keep you safe above all else. You may have seen it as wrong, but if he’d even whispered a word of who or what we are or looking for, he would have been more fucked than he is now.”

We passed a few more people, barely brushing their shoulders as the street grew more crowded.

“You cannot rule with fear. You will only create more enemies that way. Not allies.”

“Who said anything about me wanting to rule?” I glared at him as he pulled the hood around his head a little tighter. “Besides, a crown on my head all the time? Can you imagine? It would mess up my hair, and I’d have to find outfits to match.”

Miska giggled behind me at my joke. However, Reggie did not. We moved through a small crowd gathered around a few stalls full of fruits and loaves of bread. I reached out as we strolled and grabbed a small purple fruit.

I turned to Miska as we continued to walk. “He likes fruit,” I whispered to her as I passed it unseen between us. She smiled and took it, stuffing it in her satchel. If she were going to be positive, then fuck it, I would too.

“Ah, yes. Your hair, what a drastic concern compared with peace in the realms,” Reggie said, not seeming to have noticed our exchange.

I snorted. “You think they will have peace with me? You have met me, right?”

Reggie cocked a brow as we passed through a family of tall, multiple-legged beings bickering with each other. “Oh, so you expect him to take another as queen? You are his, correct? Is it not what you both scream relentlessly in the dead of the night?”

---