Page 81 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

Dianna stared at me for a moment, chewing on the inside of her cheek before sighing and turning toward Orym. “Fine, what is tall, dark, and heroic supposed to help you with?”

Orym stood, looking at us in shock, before clearing his throat. “Samkiel promised he’d help Veruka and me.”

“Veruka?”

“His sister,” I replied.

Something passed across Dianna’s face, an emotion I knew all too well. As brief as it was, I recognized the lost, angry, and broken look that she had worn on the remains of Rashearim. Her grief lived just under her skin, and I knew even when she joked or smiled or laughed with me, it still bit at her and always would. She would always remember how she lost Gabby and the lengths she went to avenge her.

Dianna glanced at me, and the demons raging behind her eyes retreated. As she held my gaze, another emotion brushed against me as if just the connection with me helped to calm those demons.

“He would.” She smiled, but it wasn’t a teasing, flirtatious smile. This one was soft, tender, and loving. My heart beat frantically at the sight. If she looked at me like that again, I might have just forgotten about helping Orym, taken Dianna, and left.

I cleared my throat. “She is a spy, as is he. They communicate with wisps.”

“Wisps?” Dianna asked.

Orym held up his hand, and a small fluttering wisp landed on his palm. “Wisp. Usually, they will carry a small note, but I haven’t received any new ones.”

Dianna cocked a brow and leaned closer. “We have those in my world. They are called dragonflies.”

Orym scrunched his face. “That’s peculiar. They look nothing like dragons.”

Dianna shrugged. “Okay, fine. We will save your sister. I’m assuming she is at the prison.”

“No,” Orym said as the wisp flew away. “She is still under Nismera’s rule.”

The air shifted at his words. Dianna stepped forward, her lip curling up, exposing gleaming fangs. I held my arm out, blocking her path.

“Excuse me? She works for her? And you want us to help you? Are you out of your godsdamn mind? After—”

“Dianna,” I cut her off. “Let him explain.”

She no longer growled, but she didn’t move back an inch. I knew if he said the wrong thing or reached for me, his head would be off his shoulders with one swipe.

“Fine. Explain to me how we can trust your sister even though she still works for Nismera and her brother is a rebel.”

Orym swallowed. “Because she was the one who told on me and got me sent away.”

Dianna didn’t speak for a second, but I no longer felt her hackles were raised either. “I will not go into all the ways that is fucked up right now.”

Orym only shrugged. “We do what we must in order to survive for the rebellion. It gave her a foothold in the legion she is a part of. They trust her completely.”

“I promised I would help. We,” I said, and Dianna rolled her eyes, “will help you.”

“Not by choice.” She smiled, and I nudged her. “So, what’s the big plan? Go to prison and what?”

“Veruka said there is something there we need. A weapon of some sort. I’m not sure,” Orym said.

“A weapon in the prison?” Dianna asked.

“I said I was unsure.”

“Apparently.” Dianna scoffed. “What kind of spy are you?”

Orym’s face darkened.

“Enough.” I held my hand up between them. “Both of you.”

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