Page 100 of The Cursed Kingdom

Kie doesn’t move, and after a long pause, Mason whispers his name. It’s enough to launch the faerie into motion, and I drag my fingers through my hair as he kneels before the dead patch, pulls off his gloves, and places his bare hands on the ground.

My budding tears make it hard to focus, but I wipe at them and force myself to watch as the dead grass inside the circle begins to ripple and turn black. The color leaks from Kie’s fingers until the circle looks like it’s covered in black tar.

Kie’s head lolls forward, a muffled curse slipping from his lips.

When Lill opened her portal, it was like a curtain spreading to the side to reveal the faerie realm. I expected something similar to that. Thick blackness seeps from Kie’s fingers instead, continuing until the entire portal is filled.

“There,” Kie says, pulling away. He stumbles to his feet, accepting the supportive hand Mason offers. He looks like shit, his skin flushed and sweaty, and I chew at my bottom lip as he pulls his gloves back up his shaking fingers.

That’s it?

Kie turns toward me. “Come on.”

I shake my head. “I thought you were going to leave me here while you go in. What if she doesn’t want me, but her brothers do?”

Kie grimaces, glancing around. “I didn’t realize how exposed this area would be. It’s not safe for you out here alone. You’re coming with us.”

I shake my head and plant my feet on the ground.Over my dead fucking body.

Kie doesn’t seem entirely surprised by my reaction, and after a long, drawn-out pause, he pushes off Mason and makes his way toward me. I tell my legs to turn around and run, but they’re not cooperating with me.

They never seem to.

“And if she doesn’t want me?” I ask.

Mason grunts. “I’m willing to do what needs to be done.”

He’s willing to snap my neck. How kind. He’s such a gentleman.

I expect Kie to force me forward or go completely caveman and throw me over his shoulder, but instead, he places a hand on the small of my back. He rests the weight there and waits for me to decide to walk.

He probably thinks he’s being kind.Idiot.

“Zaha is rumored to be finicky,” Kie says, his voice surprisingly hoarse. “Arguing or trying to run away will only hurt you. She’ll think you need training, and you don’t want that.”

Training. Like a fucking dog.

My blood boils.

“You don’t have to do this,” I say.

I sound desperate—I’m fully aware of that—but I don’t care. I have no dignity left. I don’t have the strength for it, and I don’t want to do this.

Kie taps his finger against my back but otherwise doesn’t respond. For once, the cocky prince remains quiet. He’s probably still regaining his strength. I’m sure the snarky remarks will begin soon enough.

Several painfully long seconds pass before I accept defeat and step forward. My feet drag against the ground, leavingscrape marks in the dirt. If anybody comes here later, they’ll think I was dragged.

I might as well have been.

Mason steps to the side, his green eyes boring holes into the side of my face as I let Kie lead me toward the portal. The black tar seems to move, almost like water, as I get close.

“You just need to step inside,” Kie says.

I’ve gathered that.

Sweat drips down my inner arm, and I scratch at the remaining material of my leggings as I slide my toe over the black circle. I don’t immediately sink in or fall through, which is encouraging. Kie remains by my side, his presence not nearly as comforting as he likely believes it to be.

Mason at least has the common sense to give me space.

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