Page 63 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

Reggie bit at the side of his lip. “He refuses to say.”

My head whipped back toward the soldier in my hand.

“Tell me where it is.” A low growl vibrated from my throat, and with how the guy thrashed, I knew my eyes burned crimson now. The soldier’s mouth gaped in tangent with the vents on his neck.

Reggie repeated my words, and the soldier’s gaze shifted between me and him.

“He asks for sanctuary if he speaks.”

I sighed, rolling my eyes. “Fine. Whatever. Sanctuary. Now, tell me.”

The tension in the soldier seemed to ease as Reggie relayed my words, and he started to talk again.

“He said the last sighting of Nismera’s caravan was on Klivur,” Reggie said, nodding toward me.

“Okay, that’s a lead.” Excitement shivered through me.

“But that was three days ago. They stepped through a portal and have not been seen since.”

My heart thudded in disappointment, the hope I had felt moments ago dying a painful death.

“Dianna.”

Words faded as Reggie said something else, but so did the river’s edge. I was too late again. I felt my skin prickle, rage bubbling inside me. It had been a week and a half since they had taken him from me, and the fear of what that damned poison was doing to him was making me crazy. Miska had made an antidote, but it was pointless if I couldn’t find him.

I was beyond restless, beyond worried. Even scouring the air, trying to draw soldiers to me, wasn’t enough. It was all taking too long, and I was terrified I would be too late again. I was practically a red fucking beacon, yet it took days for soldiers to show up. We were running out of time, and he could very well be at Nismera’s doorstep. The worst part was I didn’t even know where Nismera was. I didn’t even know what fucking world she was on. I couldn’t save my own damned sister. Why did I think I could save him?

A snarl left my lips, and I jerked the soldier to the side. My fangs ripped into his neck, his hands clawing at my arms as I fed. Blood hit the back of my throat, replacing the growing pit of anxiety in my gut.

I pulled away and dropped the limp soldier before wiping the blood from my mouth with the back of my hand.

“Your control is slipping.”

A harsh laugh left my lips. “You think?”

“I do not wish to see you regress into—”

“Into what?” I snapped, taking a step toward him. “A monster? Last I checked, I was one. Hello, I am an Ig’Morruthen, not some celestial princess you saw centuries ago.”

Reggie’s eyes bore into mine. “This is not the remains of Rashearim, Dianna.”

“Don’t.”

“There is still hope.”

“It’s been a week.” I felt the words leave my lips on a half-cry. “The lead we had ended days ago, which means I have no idea what planet he is on now. There are hundreds and hundreds of them, Reggie. If he . . .” I didn’t finish it. I didn’t want to.

“Tell me that you’d not feel it if he was with her? If she killed him? Look at me and tell me you’d not feel something.”

“How would I feel it?” I snapped, holding my hand up and showing him my bare finger. “I gave it up, remember? For him. I feel nothing, Reggie. No spark or connection, just hunger and emptiness and . . .”

Fear.

But I didn’t say it. I just spun, running my hands across my forehead. “Fuck. We shouldn’t have left him in that stupid city. It’s my own fault for trusting they were actually helping us. When has anyone not had an ulterior motive?”

“It is not your fault. None of this is.”

“Isn’t it? He’s weakened right now with that wound. A fraction of his power is all he has left now. The rest burns in the sky. He needs me, and I don’t even know where to start looking.”

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