Page 73 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

“Do you know her?”

She shook her head before glancing nervously behind her and nodding at me to follow her. She led me further into town, leaving the shops behind. We wove through streets lined with small houses until we reached one I assumed was hers. My guide moved a long, beige tarp away from the door and ducked inside.

“You missed her by a day or so,” she said, placing her basket down and turning to me. She removed her hat, allowing her long brown hair to spill down her back.

“She was here then. What did you see?”

She skirted around a dirty table and started a pot of tea, the aroma filling the small, unkempt place with a measure of warmth.

“I know you’re one of Nismera’s soldiers.”

My brows furrowed. “And how do you know that?”

She peeked at me over her shoulder, studying my face. “Your eyes. You don’t look like that unless you’ve been through something traumatic.”

I said nothing.

“And, of course, you can barely hide the muscles beneath the clothes we wear here. Our fishermen don’t look like that.”

“Where did you see her last?” I asked, brushing off the compliment as she poured a cup of tea and took a sip. I watched her throat work the liquid down, and my heart thudded for a different reason. Fuck. When was the last time I’d fed?

“She was in the main square after the fire,” she said, placing her cup on the table. I saw the vein in her neck throb. I felt the room pulse, but it wasn’t the room. It was the sound of her heart, strong, steady, and full of life. I felt my gums prickle and ran my tongue over the sharpness of my fangs as they emerged. My stomach growled. Or was it me?

“Are you hungry?” she asked, turning back to me. “I’m assuming it’s a long trip here, especially by boat.”

I nodded, forcing a tight-lipped smile that didn’t show my teeth. “What else can you tell me? Where did she go?”

“Oh, yes.” She wiped at her brow. “The others won’t talk, but she left, burst into the sky as a huge, scaled beast. She blocked out the sun for a second, and everyone scrambled. We thought she was circling to burn us all, but she left right before her friends did.”

“Friends?” I asked as she reached for her basket. She nodded, pulling out a sheet and hanging it on a line of wire strung at the back of the room. I stepped closer, crossing my arms across my chest.

“Yeah,” she said, leaning down to gather another sheet, the front of her blouse gaping to expose the top of her breasts. Deep blue veins ran just below the cream of her skin, leading back up to the slender column of her throat. My mouth watered. I clenched my hands and turned my gaze from the temptation. “She had a gentleman with her and a child.”

My head reared back as I absently counted on my fingers. There was no way Samkiel got her pregnant, and if he had, the child would not be walking yet. I shook my head. I already knew the man with her was Reggie. It had to be.

“A child?” I turned back around as she placed a hand on her hip.

“Yeah, cute kid. They seemed like a nice family. The man and girl left on the back of a toruk. I don’t know what direction they went. Like I said, we all went to hide.”

I nodded, placing my hand over my lips and speaking around my fingers. “Thank you.”

“Sure. I’m glad I could help.” She smiled and continued to hang her laundry.

I had to get out of here before I did something I regretted. Maybe I could find something to eat here and travel back before . . . Blood fermented the air right as she cursed.

“Ouch.” She sighed. “I forget to take the pins out sometimes.”

I was in front of her before she moved away from her laundry, gripping her hand in mine.

“What the . . .” Her words died as she saw my face, eyes, and fangs. “No, no, no. You’re one of them!”

A tiny droplet of blood had formed on the pad of her thumb. Her hand hit my arm, trying to get away from me as I placed it in my mouth and sucked. One drop of blood and my entire nervous system went into overdrive. It always reminded me of when Logan and I’d stolen sweets and eaten way too many. My whole body would tingle, only this felt so much better.

“I’m so sorry,” I said, dropping her hand and going for her throat.

“ARE YOU CALLING ME?” I SNEERED, THE REFLECTIVE DISK IN MY HAND shimmering.

“Did you find anything?” Kaden replied.

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