Page 59 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

“They took more than eggs, King of Rashearim.”

I extinguished my light and put my back against the wall. Sliding to the floor, I resisted the urge to press my hand to my side. “Your mate.”

“We may be the fighters of our home, but they are the protectors. They were slaughtered first. Then they destroyed our home. It rains ashes in the mountains now because of Nismera, and the remaining realms will soon follow.”

Pain writhed in her golden eyes. Pain that would haunt her forever. My shoulders tensed at her words, determination replacing the empathy I felt for her.

“Not if I have a say in it.”

I sighed and pushed to my feet. The toruk stood as well, the steel cage creaking beneath her weight. I peered out the small airhole to make sure no guards had returned, but only the shadows created by the flames of the torches moved outside.

Her wings shifted against her chains again as I reached into my pocket, fishing out the rings there. I placed them on my fingers one by one and called forth an ablaze dagger. A soft glow filled the cell, and her eyes narrowed into slits. I shifted to her side, and her powerful beak opened slightly. She watched me carefully but made no move to attack as I sliced through the chains holding her. I caught them in my hands, placing them on the floor so they did not rattle.

“You free me?”

I kept working until the last chain was released, then moved toward her wing and side. Returning the dagger to my ring, I lay my hands on the small circular burns. She shuffled to the side, her feathers expanding and her tail thrashing in pain. I concentrated on pulling on the energy inside me. Light flickered on my palm, my abdomen aching as the last of my power leaked out of me. I focused until my hand glowed. Carefully, I slid it across the injured bone of her wing, feeling it snap back into place. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I gritted my teeth. The skin smoothed as it knitted, and feathers grew back, thick, golden, and full where they had been burned off.

“You’d heal me when you can not heal yourself?”

I nodded, suddenly dizzy as the power ebbed from my hand. I took my rings off and placed them back in my pocket.

“You have to go. The guards will make another pass soon, and you cannot be here. We cannot allow you to be taken to Nismera. If she cannot break you, she will use your bones as she sees fit, and we both know the magic that lies there.”

“What do you wish for in exchange, King of Rashearim?”

I swayed on my feet. Her wing shot out, steadying me, keeping me upright.

“Thanks,” I said as she lowered it, and I headed toward the door. Tremors slithered through my body, and I ached. I had used too much power and had little left. I carefully opened the door and glanced out, checking to ensure no guards were nearby.

“I need you to find someone very important to me and deliver a message. If you do this, I can promise you will be free. I promise you a mountain that no one can reach. I promise to save these realms.”

The toruk’s eyes blinked once, then twice before she stood to her full height. As that feathered chest splayed, the carriage rocked. She stepped closer, massive, proud, and powerful. I was in awe of her beauty.

“A great darkness hovers around you, King of Rashearim. It smells of the old one. Ancient. Powerful. Bloodthirsty. Perhaps Nismera is not the only evil being in this realm.”

I knew she was speaking of Dianna. She could sense her imprinted on my soul.

“Dianna is not evil.”

“Your love for a creature of death will be your demise.”

“Will you do it or not?”

The toruk lowered her head until her face hovered inches from mine, her powerful beak taking up most of my vision.

“She is your beloved?”

Her eyes flashed bright, shimmering gold, and a warmth spread through my body. I had a second to remember the power behind the eye of a toruk, and I knew, above all, that was what Nismera truly wanted. This was not just a random toruk she wished to use for its magic. No, this was the sovereign who wielded the eye of truth if the legend was to be believed. It was a flash of magic connected to the universe itself. A mythical beast that people would die to tame and keep. That warmth spread, and my mouth moved, only the truth spilling from my lips.

“I’ve never loved or been so consumed by another, nor will I ever again.”

“Very well.”

I blinked and stumbled. The daze was wearing off, but I couldn’t remember what I said. Shaking my head, I reached up and unclasped my necklace. The small roll of paper felt so fragile as I secured it to the pendant, but it was heavy with hope and love.

I handed the necklace to the toruk, and she leaped from the carriage. Powerful wings beat hard, propelling her toward the sky. She barely cleared the tree line before the shouting started. I moved quickly, jumping to the ground and sneaking into the cover of the woods. Guards rushed forward as I lowered myself into the brush to wait.

It was a while before it was safe to return to camp, and I did it as quietly and carefully as possible. Guards stood outside every prisoner’s tent, ensuring no one left during the chaos I had created. I snuck to the slash I’d made in the back of the tent and silently slipped inside.

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