Page 53 of The Cursed Kingdom

Subjects. Slaves. Does Kie believe those two things are the same? Because he’s using them interchangeably.

“What about her brothers? What do they do with blood?”

Kie sighs. “Yahweh created the humans, and he closely monitors your realm.” I perk up, soaking in his every word. “He’s stronger than the other gods, and he doesn’t let them near your kind. Once you’re outside your realm, though, you’re fair game—and valuable.”

You’ve got to be kidding me.

He continues. “Zaha won’t harm you. She’ll keep you as a pet.”

“A pet?”I’m not a fucking pet.

Mason snorts, and I fight the urge to grab and throw a rock at his head. I might risk it if he weren’t behind me, watching my every move.

“Yes, Abby,” Kie says. “A pet.”

The words are mocking, but I can tell he’s serious. I hate it, hate that they’ve taken one look at me and decided I’m less than them. I don’t know what else I’d expect from a pair of pampered princes, though. I’m surprised they aren’t making me end every sentence withYour Highness.

“You still haven’t answered my question, though,” I point out. “What about Zaha’s brothers? What do they do with human blood?”

“Kie,” Mason says, interrupting the conversation. “Cut left.”

Kie immediately adjusts his steps, curving to the left at a moment’s notice. I do the same—making my movements as aggressive as possible so everybody can see how upset I am—but those plans are ruined as my foot gets caught on a log and I pivot forward.

I catch myself quickly, but embarrassment still heats my cheeks as I huff and straighten myself back out.

Kie peers at me over his shoulder, his eyebrow raised, and Mason lets out a breathy laugh.

“What are you doing in the forest, anyway?” Kie asks.

I frown. I’m surprised it took him this long to ask.

“That’s none of your concern.”

Kie acts like he knows everything, but I think he’s blowing smoke out of his ass. He’s comfortable making lofty assumptions, which feels right up a prince’s alley. I bet he thinks he’s god’s gift to the faerie realm.

A few moments of tense silence pass. Kie probably expects me to drop to my knees and tell him everything, but I pointedly refuse to answer his question.

He and Mason can force me to travel with them, but they can’t force me to speak.

I have no reason to tell these men a damn thing about me and my plans, and I don’t intend to. They’re going to use whatever I say against me, and there’s no point in risking dragging Lill down with me.

I should’ve remained in Farbay until I had a better plan.

“You’re inept and ill-prepared to travel through the forest,” Kie says. “It’s obvious it was a rash decision, and I’m curious what you were looking for out here. Us? Or perhaps a shifter?”

Inept?I grind my teeth, biting back a snarky response.

I’m not giving him the satisfaction of my words. I’d much rather spend my time planning how I’ll get away from these two. They’ve yet to let me out of their sight, and they continually insist on boxing me in.

It doesn’t grant many opportunities for escape.

“How long until we reach the river?” I ask.

I want to take the focus off me, and I’ve gathered that these two aren’t particularly open to discussing anything of substance. At least, not anything I care to know. I’m sure it’s intentional.

“Hours,” is Mason’s curt response.

I smack my lips, waiting for further elaboration, but he doesn’t provide any. Go figure.

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