Page 49 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

I glared at him. “I’m not a god.”

He nodded. “Still keeping up that ruse, huh?” He shrugged and took another bite. “You need to eat. That gaping wound on your side isn’t healing.”

“What was it you gave me?” I asked, trying to stop another shiver. “In the wagon. What was that?”

“A bessel root. We all have them. It helps nausea.” He lowered his spoon. “And parasites, since the food and water they give us isn’t the cleanest. You might shit your brains out, but at least the worms won’t eat you from the inside out.”

I grunted in response and pressed my hand over the pendant around my neck. It was the only thing I had of her here.

“You know, they tried to take that necklace off you. Three guards attempted it, and it cut their hands. They laughed, saying it was damn near unbreakable.”

I glared at him but said nothing.

He sipped on his soup. “Must be pretty damn important.”

I sighed in response and nodded toward the other fires. “Why don’t you go sit with them instead of pestering me?”

The elf snickered. “Oh, they don’t like me. Trust me.”

“Winning personality?” I asked.

He only shrugged. “Until you reveal your secrets, I will not share mine.”

“I have none.”

He took another bite as the fire crackled between us. “Your Eye markings are wrong. You need four shaved lines on each side, not three. They used three before they took Leenon Ridge back.”

My hand instinctively raised to the side of my head as he watched me, his tail flicking. I turned from him, and he laughed low into his food.

“Don’t worry, god king. I won’t tell.”

“Do not call me that,” I snapped back at him, careful to keep my voice low. Turning, I made sure the other prisoners weren’t paying us any attention. The guards watched us but were more concerned with each other.

“Because you don’t want others to know? Or perhaps . . .” He leaned a fraction closer, his nostrils flaring before pulling back. “Or perhaps it’s the female you are protecting. Her scent is faint, but you are covered in her.”

I didn’t realize I had moved until my side ached, and I was practically snarling in his face. “Watch what you say next.”

All I got in return was a toothy grin that made his pointed ears twitch. “So it is a woman. Always a woman. I don’t see a band on your finger or the mark, but she must be pretty important, nonetheless. Is that where the necklace you always touch is from?”

I felt the tic in my jaw and wondered if killing him would serve me. I decided it wasn’t worth it and stood, yanking the worn blanket with me as I walked toward the makeshift tent. He said nothing else, just snickered behind me as I left.

I ran my hand absently across the necklace as I sat down on the small, makeshift cot. I lay there as the night whispered its song, my mind racing. The caravan held at least fifty prisoners, and we were all being shipped somewhere. I needed more information, and I needed to reach her as well. I lifted the necklace, peering closely at the pictures of us inside. A small smile curved my lips, a small bright spot in this damned day.

EIGHTEEN

KADEN

“What’s down there?”

Nismera smiled, playing coy. “It’s where I keep my fates. Nothing exciting. Now, come on.”

I turned with her even if a part of me knew she was lying.

Guards shuffled past the war room as I sat listening to The Order ramble.

“. . . and if that’s true, only one stronghold can hold it. The shipment is on the way to it as we speak, my king.”

I sighed, the sound of my chair scraping across the stone, cutting off their words as I stood. Every eye turned to me as Nismera lifted her head.

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