Page 20 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

I glanced toward the food piled in the small trash. I had brought enough for us both, thinking he’d eat first, but also to maintain the illusion I would, too. Over the last few weeks, I had tried to eat, but I couldn’t help how bland it tasted or how my stomach churned with every bite. I would wait until he was gone and hold out as long as I could before it came back up.

“Everything is . . .” I wanted to lie like I so casually did with Samkiel, but I feared Reggie had already seen the truth. “Bland, except . . .”

“Blood.”

The word hung between us.

“It’s all I want, all I crave now. It’s never been like this before. Even on Onuna, after Gabby passed, I could control it. If I don’t feed, staying in the same room with anything living is hard. The last time I remember it being this bad was when I was first turned.”

“When was the last time you fed?”

“Tarr.”

“That was over a month ago.”

“Well, I ate half an army. I thought it would last longer.” I took a shuddering breath and looked at Reggie. He was my friend, the only one I had right now, and I knew I could trust him even with everything that had happened. I glanced down at my hands to see I was sliding my fingers over the spot where my mark should have been. “When Samkiel and I were . . . I would never hurt him, but maybe you’re right. Maybe something is wrong with me.”

Reggie was silent for a moment, and I didn’t dare to look up. “Do you feel you are regressing?”

I nodded. “I feel I denied who I was for too long, and now it refuses to go back. My powers came back with a vengeance, but Kaden bled me out in that tomb. Perhaps there is no more celestial part of me left.”

Reggie sighed. “Perhaps it is more than that. You spoke of your dreams once when we returned. Do you still have them?”

My heart thundered. “Yes.”

“And?”

“And nothing has changed. It’s still that man sitting on that throne made of bones. All I see before I wake up is him beckoning me to him and then nothing.”

“Do you remember what he looks like? Perhaps a ruler of the Otherworld senses your power? Maybe he wishes for an alliance.”

I shivered, running my hands over my arms. “I don’t know. All I remember is walking through the darkest part of the world. There’s no noise, not even a breeze. It looks like a monstrous graveyard. Bones stick up in every direction as if a hundred massive beasts had fallen from the sky and died right there. I always take the same path through the mouth of the largest beast. The walls are dark and jagged, and he’s there, sitting, watching me. I see orange eyes and hair made of spikes.”

“Spikes?”

“Horns? I don’t know. Even in my dreams, it’s too hard to tell.” I rubbed my arms, a chill running across my body. “He doesn’t move, just sits like he’s waiting for something.”

“Do you see any type of armor?”

My lips pursed as I tried to recall. “His shoulders, yes, I suppose some type of armor, but it’s blurry. I don’t know. All I know is it’s happened a few times, and I’m startled awake as though he’s in the room with us every time.”

“I assume you haven’t told Samkiel this either?”

My eyes narrowed. “That I’m dreaming of another man? No, I haven’t. It’s just another thing I’ll have to explain when I tell him I brought him back to life.”

Reggie was nothing but cool and complacent as he turned from me. He watched the billowing pink-tinged clouds. “You should tell him soon, my queen. Secrets have buried rulers faster than any blade.”

Uneasiness swept in before I could smother it. Reggie was right. I needed to tell him, tell him everything, actually. I just didn’t know where to begin.

SEVEN

SAMKIEL

I exited the healers’ quarters, lowering my shirt. Soft giggles and whispers followed me out, but I ignored them as I turned down the hall. The scents of flowers and healing herbs filtered through the air. An assortment of lush plants and vines grew from the walls, columns, and ceilings, twisting and twining through the infrastructure of the palace.

I slid my hand across my scar, and a small hiss left me. It was still sore but better than before. At least with the last few stitches out, I felt I was progressing.

As I made my way to my next appointment, I took a deep breath and ran through the cover story Dianna and I had decided on. Lying was not my strong suit, but I knew what I had to do. I grabbed the curved door handle and twisted it without knocking. The door opened easily, and I stepped inside. Frilla looked up and giggled, her flower-patterned lace dress skittering across the floor as she rose. I noticed the rare green jewels that graced her fingers and wondered just how well they paid the Jade City healers that she could afford those. I offered her a soft smile, wincing as I curled one arm in front of me and bowed. I hoped my smile still seemed genuine when I rose, with no hint of the twinge of pain that still lingered.

---