Page 75 of Starkeeper of the Fractured Crown

I snarled, sweat pouring down my skin as I was brought to my knees. The pain was unbearable, but it felt sofuckinggood.

Just for a few hours.

“Keep telling yourself that,”my magic taunted as my body contorted, the bones reforming into something that didn’t resemble any sort of humanoid form.“Keep telling yourself how much you hate this. Maybe one day, denial won’t be your biggest lie.”

~~~

Kyra

I had almost made it to the door when Mom stopped me.

It had been two weeks since the High King had left me that list of rules. Three since Cole had been punished for fucking me.

I had tested it. That list. Not three days after TrickMichael had left it, I found some older male while I was thieving and decided to try it out.

I had to admit, the thrill, the fear, it helped. He didn’t show up during the act in the middle of the alley, there had been no box wrapped in ‘pretty ribbon’ left at either my cottage or my house.

So, I tried again.

And a third time.

On the fourth time, I wondered why I was even doing it. He wasn’t coming. He had lied just to scare me.

Good. I was glad he was out of my life. Glad that he had gotten bored of such an ordinary human being. I could finally focus.

Mark’s birthday was a month and three days away and I still had just a few things I had to find. The jacket was difficult, as were the boots, but I would find them, even if I had to steal from one of the wealthier families in Therian to get them. I would get them.

“You got a letter.”

My eyes fell from her hazel gaze to the letter she held in her hand. “From who?”

She shoved it into my chest painfully. “Perfect, I raised an illiterate child. It’s no wonder your womb will dry up before a man decides to marry you and give me a grandchild.”

I took the letter, and she jerked her hand back as if my fingers had burned her.

I had never gotten a letter before. I didn’t even know who would…

My eyes widened, but I tried my best to keep my expression clear. Ket.

Ithad to be from Ket. He had finally written to me after all these years.

“Thank you,” I told her before slipping out of the house.

The last month had been the shittiest month of my life, but this? This would make up for it. This would make up for the fear of the High King stalking me. It would make up for Cole leaving, for the emotional back and forth I’d been experiencing since saving those demons from the General.

Nothing else mattered if this was truly from Ket.

I kept my head low, hood tight, veil in place, as I walked through the streets, heading for the rich district of the city. I had to get those boots today.

As I walked down the street, I slid my hand under the edge of the envelope, easing it open. I wondered what he would tell me. Maybe he had gotten a job. Maybe he was traveling, seeing all of Terigard like he had always talked about. Or maybe he had met someone.

Someone normal and sane and beautiful.

That would be good. It would be great. It would besogreat.

The parchment I pulled out was crisp, but the handwriting wasn’t familiar. Which was to be expected. We had both grown so much since the last time we had seen each other; I didn’t expect his handwriting to be exactly the same.

Dear Kyra Skye,

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