Page 90 of Wingless Crow: Part 1

The king was in a generous mood tonight, but all I really wished for was the truth.

“I’d like to get some answers,” I said. “Can I ask you a question, please?”

His smooth brow furrowed, the dreamy expression gone.

“What kind of question?”

I met his gaze straight on. “What did you do to me the night I spent in your bedroom?”

His back snapped straight. The muscles in his thighs under my butt stiffened as his body went rigid.

“You don’t need to trouble your pretty little head with that, sweetie,” he bit off. Even the word of endearment came out sharp, like a warning.

“I wish I could forget it, Sire, but—”

“Oh, is that what you wish for? Toforget?” He grabbed my chin, and I realized I’d made a mistake.

The king could make me forget this conversation and the entire past week. What if he erased whatever few memories I still had left? Every one I’d made since coming to Sky Kingdom? All of it, good and bad? Because therehad beengood memories, too, the memories I wished to keep.

“No. Please. It doesn’t bother me at all,” I lied. “I’m just curious…”

“Curiosity is not an admirable quality in a woman, Sparrow,” he admonished sternly.

Fear gripped me, but anger burned through it.

What was he admonishing me for? For wishing to know what happened to my own body? What right did he have to hide that from me?

But I knew the answer to that—the right of power. King Tiane held absolute power over me, including every part of my body. I had no protection from him.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty,” I gritted through my teeth.

But it was too late. He pursed his mouth, jerking his hand away from me.

“You soured my mood with your questions, human,” he sulked. “I don’t want you here tonight.”

A week ago, that would be a devastating thing to hear from him. Now, all I felt was relief. I climbed off his lap quickly and bowed my head.

“Enjoy your night, Your Majesty,” I said quickly, afraid he’d change his mind.

He wouldn’t look at me, brushing off his thighs, as if trying to get rid of every trace of my presence from his white velvet pants.

“Now, go to your room and think about what you’ve done,” he snarled. “Then make sure you do better next time.”

With my head bowed, I left, trying hard not to run. Curious stares of the courtiers slithered after me. Some of them must feel pity for me. A few likely basked in schadenfreude, witnessing me falling from grace. But I didn’t care. I simply had to get away from the suffocating presence of the king.

I craved fresh air.

Rushing into my room, I swung the curtains aside and yanked the window open. The night breeze blew in. It was warm but refreshing. I drew it in with long, gasping breaths.

A howl came in from the outside—a long, blood-chilling wail. Muffled by the distance, it was nevertheless terrifying.

I recoiled from the window.

“Water…” came the plea with the next scream. The word was distorted, skewed, and stretched, but clear enough for me to understand how incredibly thirsty the person was to beg for water through their suffering.

I recognized the howls. The curse breakers had screamed like that. But King Tiane had told me he showed them mercy. I assumed that meant he either ordered them released from the cages or, at the very least, granted them a quick death that ended their torment.

What was happening there now?

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