Page 97 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

GUARDS PUSHED AND SHOVED, TRYING TO WRANGLE THE GROWING rise of chaos. It worked perfectly, given the fact everyone was miserable here. All they needed was a little shove, which is exactly what I did to the guard who passed by me. He landed on a table, and the prisoners dragged him off, throwing him into the tussle.

Taotl shouted, pushing more guards to join the fray. As soon as his back was turned, I attacked. My fist connected with his face, and he stumbled, dazed. He touched his jaw and smiled, but it only lasted a second. I grabbed the rail behind me and, using it for leverage, kicked him down the stairs.

He lay in a crumpled heap, groaning in pain. I jumped down after him and checked to make sure no one was behind me. My claws emerged from my fingertips, and I punctured his shoulder, dragging him into the dark bowels of the prison. His hands reached out, scrabbling for purchase, but it was too late.

I EXITED THE LOWER LEVELS SO MUCH TALLER THAN I WAS ACCUSTOMED to. I adjusted the silk garbs around my shoulder and watched the chaos as the fighting continued. Samkiel helped a prisoner off the floor, the man’s eyes swollen shut. He was leading him out of the melee when he paused and focused on me as if he sensed I’d come back into the room. I nodded once, and he returned the gesture before leading the man he was supporting toward the exit. I strode through the crowd, pushing prisoners out of my way and heading for the stairs.

A shout followed after me, and it took me a moment to remember what form I wore. “Taotl,” he called. “We need reinforcements. They have gone mad.”

“I’ll go get them,” I called.

This morning, I watched Taotl wave his wrist to unlock the door. I pulled my sleeve up and tried to look like I knew what I was doing, pressing my wrist against the metal. The door hissed open, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I stepped through, and it closed behind me. I inhaled deeply, the air so much fresher, this level less oppressive. When I looked up, I saw why. High above, a circular grate allowed in the bright morning sun and a fresh breeze.

I made my way up the stairs and to the left, working my way to the top. I glanced around a couple of times, wondering why I hadn’t seen any more rooms or cells or why I didn’t hear anything other than my hooves on the stairs. All thoughts died when I reached the room and heard a single heartbeat inside. I calmed my breathing, ready to play my part, and opened the door.

I froze, and time stopped.

“I FUCKED UP,” I SAID, MY HEART THUNDERING AS I DROPPED THE facade and returned to my natural form.

Samkiel pulled me further into their cell, and Orym closed the gate. The chaos erupting outside had forced the guards to shove everyone into their cells early. Once I returned and restored order, all the fighting had stopped. The guards gathered the wounded, and I ordered them to their chambers, making it clear that no one was allowed out until early morning.

“Slow down,” Samkiel said, grabbing my arms to ground me with his touch. “Talk to me. What happened? What did you see? Did you find the weapon?”

I nodded, hating what I was about to say. “Yes, but I don’t know how to tell you this. I ate Taotl, but my blooddreams haven’t worked since Rashearim. They didn’t return when I got my powers back. I didn’t see this, Samkiel.”

“What? Just tell me, Dianna.”

“The weapon . . .” I swallowed. “It’s not a thing. It’s a person. It’s Logan.”

THIRTY-SIX

LOGAN. AN HOUR EARLIER

The door swung open. My body didn’t move, but within the prison of my mind, I looked up. I preferred the harrowing darkness over the bloodletting they forced on me, but I had to admit I got bored. That damned commander was back, and I was expecting him to unload a tirade once more, but he just stood there. He didn’t move toward his desk or the room behind me. He just stood and stared.

I couldn’t decipher his expression and had no idea what was happening. Perhaps he had no use for me any longer. Perhaps I’d be shipped off, and they would take me even further away from Nev. Either way, this was Iassulyn, and I had truly suffered.

Taotl took one step closer, then another, as if he had forgotten how to breathe. As he neared, a familiar swirling mass of dark mist engulfed his form, and I lost my breath, too. Her piercing red eyes stared as if she could see into my soul.

Dianna.

I know that name! I know her! My friend. Our friend. Our queen.

“Are you in there, buddy?” Her words filled the dark, empty expanse of my mind, echoing through my memories.

“Yes!” I screamed. I yelled. I fought, but my mouth did not move. My legs, arms, and body remained still and motionless.

“Logan, if you can hear me, know that Samkiel is alive. We will not stop fighting for you and the rest of our family. We will bring you home, okay?”

My heart thudded. I felt it, even if it was only for a second, and I wanted to hold on to it. I wanted to latch myself to it and force my body to move, make anything move.

Her eyes searched my face, and I wanted to yell that I was there but nothing came.

Dianna sighed and placed a hand on my shoulder. I couldn’t feel a damn thing. Her form grew and thickened, returning to that of the ugly commander. I watched as she took one last look at me, and then she was gone.

I curled inward again, wishing I could be free of this damned mind prison and lay upon the cold empty floor of my mind. Dianna had said that Samkiel was alive and that gave me hope, especially if she was with him. I would cling to that because I had seen what they were capable of when they worked together. I closed my eyes tightly and tried to think of something, anything, but the empty void I was existing in.

More of the celestials filled the hall as that chime rang out loud and clear. I knew most studied after hours, wanting to impress the gods and goddesses to stay their yeyras. I was looking for just one.

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