Page 67 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

She looked at me as if I had grown three heads. “You would go and save the King of Rashearim?”

My hands dropped to my hips. “Oh, I would level the universe for him, but he told me to be good, so I’ll stick to saving him instead.”

“There is no kindness left in these realms, dark one. The King of Rashearim is kind. If you mean what you say, then I shall help. My only wish is that you protect the realms, protect him.”

Reggie stepped forward, Miska trembling at his side as she looked past me and toward the creature behind me. I handed him the note, and he read it over before nodding and placing it in his pocket.

“I know where that realm is and how to get you there quickly, but you must wait for nightfall.”

“Fine. You can still do your cool misting thing. When it’s safe, I’ll summon you and let you know what I find.”

Reggie nodded. The bird beast lowered her wing and crouched. I didn’t realize how large she actually was until Reggie helped Miska onto her back and leaped up behind her. Miska reached into her sack, pulling out the small treat she had saved.

“Here, for when you find him.”

“Thank you.” I smiled at her before turning and meeting the creature’s gaze, making sure it saw my eyes flare pure Ig’Morruthen red. “Take care of them. Get them somewhere safe, or I’ll roast and serve you for dinner.”

She snapped her beak in frustration before letting out a piercing screech as if to tell me to go fuck myself. She spread her wings wide and lifted skyward with one devastating downward thrust. A powerful boom echoed shortly after, like thunder splitting the air, and then they were gone.

TWENTY-FOUR

IMOGEN

“She’s pretty, that’s for sure.”

The minotaur snorted in my face. The heat made me want to blink, but I was unable to. I couldn’t do a damned thing but scream internally where no one could hear. I fought to yell, to move my limbs, but I was not in control of myself any longer. My body responded to orders I wished it didn’t. I was trapped in my head where it was dark, watching my actions as if it were all a movie. My mind was filled with the sound of my sobs, but my body was silent. I missed my friends and my home. I missed it all.

“That she is, and also the perfect weapon. Samkiel really sculpted The Hand perfectly. The last raid we did took less than an hour with her. My soldiers couldn’t keep up.”

Nivene, the orc general Nismera sold me to, laughed as he chewed on some disgusting goo that turned his sharp teeth black.

My heart ached. Every time they said his name and laughed about his death, I cried for days. I cried because I’d ached to help him in that damned council room. It destroyed me that I’d been forced to leave him behind. I hated myself for not being strong enough to break free, to die trying to save him and my family. A true warrior’s death was what I wanted, and that was what it would have been if I’d given up my light for them.

“Ah.” The minotaur turned. “What else is she good at?”

Nivene laughed harder. “I haven’t tried her, to be fair.” He spat that chewing goo on the floor, and I wished I could recoil. He had never brought me up here before, usually leaving me to stand guard with the other part of his legion. They would talk or joke about me, but never like this.

“Let’s just say I can attest she is great at that too.” I recognized that voice, and my gut rolled.

Jiraiya and a few soldiers entered the room. He walked in, wearing the regal Order garbs. The emerald green and golden tassels reminded me of one of the princes in those movies Dianna showed Neverra and me on the night of our slumber party. It had been her sister’s favorite, and she’d wanted to share it with us. I missed them both so much, and I was worried I’d never see them again.

“Isn’t that what we are here for?” the minotaur said, and my blood ran cold.

Nivene had lied to Nismera. He wasn’t taking me for extra training. They were exchanging money for time with me, and Jiraiya was gladly accepting it. The door to the room closed, one of the soldiers latching it behind him. I willed my hands to move, my toes, any fucking thing. If I could get control, I could cut them to pieces.

Jiraiya stepped closer to me as he tucked the money they’d given him into the pouch he carried. He placed it on the small table before stalking forward. His breath tickled the top of my eyelashes as he stroked his hand down my face.

“We only have an hour here.” He stared into my eyes, sliding his thumb along my lower lip. “Don’t leave any marks on her, or Nismera will think she is defective and kill her.”

Someone grunted in response, and lust filled the air. Jiraiya’s lips curved in a sick and twisted smile. Internally, I closed my eyes, turning away. I could not feel my body anymore, only here where I was trapped. There, I could pretend not to see. I could focus, drowning out the sounds, and once I was free, then I could—

“I don’t understand,” the minotaur said, and everyone looked at him.

A soldier snorted. “We’re going to fuck her, dude. Doesn’t your race do that?”

Another soldier laughed, and the minotaur’s head tipped ever so slightly.

“Oh.” He shrugged. “Okay, I just wanted to make sure before I do this.”

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