Page 10 of King of the Unsightly

They all gasped and croaked amongst each other.

“It’s been ages!”

“She finally speaks!” they cried out, jumping up and down.

All their claws scraped against the road as their overzealous chatter filled the air and reverberated off the trees.

I stood there, annoyed. Could they not answer a question in their goddamn life? “Yes, it’s all very lovely.”

It had been years since I last witnessed them, yet I couldn’t place the exact memory. But why would they resurface now?Why stalk me?

They responded with no hesitation like they heard my thoughts. “For protection. The barrier is weakening.”

“Your presence has been revealed,” one-eyed said, clarifying.

The crow hopped forward lifting its beak at me; the apparent scar revealed it as the same bird from earlier, Gren.

I peeked at the rest of them and back at Gren, perplexed and a little aggravated. I could have used their protection earlier. If they couldn’t protect me then, how could they possibly protect me later?

Ah, maybe they could claw someone’s face. That might come in handy.“Why didn’t you help when I needed it, and what are you protecting me from, if it’s not from being literally kidnapped and pushed off a cliff?”

They only perched there silently and shook their beaks.

“You weren’t in immediate danger,” Gren finally responded.

I tossed my head back and laughed. I’d hate to find out what they considered immediate danger. “Fine, but the stalking needs to stop. Only one of you can follow me. I can’t have all of you guys squabbling twenty-four seven. So, only one.” I pointed my finger at Gren. He seemed like the most level-headed, and I would rather deal with one than thirty. “You.”

Gren froze, peeked at the others, and nodded, signaling them to leave.

“We won’t be far.”

“Just in case.”

“We will be waiting.”

They gave each other looks of disapproval but ultimately listened and disappeared into the forest, leaving Gren by my side.

“Care to explain anything?”

Gren’s silence ate away at me as his beak pointed to the ground. He stole a glance in my direction while fidgeting—ifcrows could do that. Either way, it looked more like twitching his feathers than anything else.

“Your mother’s coven is after you. I’m sorry, I wish I could say more,” he said with a hint of sorrow in his voice.

I scoffed and kicked a few pebbles off the road and continued walking. I really hated how it wasn’t my first time hearing those words.

So my mother really was a witch.Great. Super normal stuff.

I rubbed my temples again out of frustration. I yearned to question Gren further, but he didn’t look like much of a talker and had apparently taken an oath of silence. How convenient.

My legs grew weak and restless. I lost track of how many miles I hiked once we passed the gas station.

The moon mocked me under its lambency. The cruel taunt lit the path to Lucien’s place—making it painstakingly obvious I should have stayed inside for the night with Raagini. Then maybe I wouldn’t be in this never-ending hell-loop.

I tossed aside what little pride I had left and knocked on his door. I waited, fiddling nervously with my hands. Several clicks later and the door swung open.

Lucien stood there, shirtless and in black boxer briefs. His exposed chest reacted to the chill in the air as his muscles flexed from his tight grip on the side of the doorframe. His eyes slit before he fully took me in. They widened and his jaw dropped. Maybe he saw Gren, too, but I doubted it.

“What happened? Wait, what the hell are you wearing? Oh, shit. I forgot. I’m so—”

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