Page 58 of The Cursed Kingdom

ABBY

KIE PICKS UP the pace.

It’s getting dark, and I’m losing sight of the ground beneath me. I’d pull out my flashlight if I didn’t already know the princes would throw a fit. They’d rather have me walk blind and break a leg.

My knees ache with every step, and the blisters blooming on my ankles don’t feel great, but I refrain from complaining. I’ll tend to myself the next time we stop to rest, which I really hope will be at the river.

My throat is so dry, it aches, and my vision is continually blurring. I’m fighting unconsciousness with every step, and I have been for hours.

Mason slows, no longer walking beside Kie. He waits for me to pass before taking his spot in the back, once more monitoring me. I figured it was only a matter of time before the two stopped whispering to one another and Mason resumed his watch guard position.

“We’re almost there,” Kie promises.

I wish I had my water bottle with me, and I resist the urge to spin around and glare at Mason as I remember why I don’t. It’shis fault it was left behind. Had he not knocked me out, I’d have made sure it was in my backpack.

I don’t respond to Kie’s announcement, nor does Mason. He probably already knows, though. I bet that’s what they were whispering about up there. Fucking gossips.

We walk for a while before the sounds of rushing water hit me. It sounds fast and rough, but I don’t care. I’m going on almost twenty-four hours without water, and I’m sure my pee is a grotesque shade of radioactive yellow right about now.

Kie continues forward, his dark form weaving smoothly between trees. Mason is suspiciously close behind me, but he’s not nudging my back the way he was earlier. I suspect he’s preparing himself to catch me when I inevitably trip over a rock or root, which angers me more than I’d care to admit.

The moonlight offers a bit of light, but not nearly enough.

Kie comes to an abrupt halt, and I nearly run into his back.

The river is loud, almost loud enough to dull the sounds of my racing thoughts, but not quite. I catch sight of the water ahead, the moonlight reflecting off the surface, and it doesn’t look good.

The water is indeed fast, and it’s swirling in a way that suggests it’s deep.

I’m just desperate enough not to care, though, and I push past Kie in my hurry to the riverbank. I’m careful not to lose my footing, and I evaluate the rush of the water as I near. It might not be the worst idea to jump in and let the current pull me downstream.

I’d consider it if it were daytime and I had a better idea of what I was dealing with.

I’m a decent swimmer, but I don’t have a death wish.

I set my backpack on the ground before carefully maneuvering to my knees. The bandages crinkle and my injuriesscream as I put weight on them, but I don’t trust myself to stand and lean over the water.

One wrong move, and I’m submerged.

“Is it safe to drink?” I ask, turning back to Kie and Mason.

Mason sits on a large rock, and Kie stands on his left. They’re both watching me, which is highly unnerving.

“Yes,” Kie says.

That’s all I need to hear, and I lick my lips before cupping my hands below the surface. The water’s frigid, and I greedily scoop handful after handful into my mouth. This is arguably the most refreshing thing I’ve ever experienced, and the icy temperature soothes my achy throat from the inside.

I’m sure I look like a feral animal as I frantically drink from the river, and probably not a graceful one, but I don’t care. I need this. Plus, I’m tired of Mason sniffing and commenting on my pee. It’s disgusting, and I don’t know why he even bothers. He’s the one who wants me to die.

“Who’s bathing her?” Mason asks.

I freeze, every muscle growing stiff as I pull my hands from the water. I can practically feel the weight of their stares on my back, and I swallow past the lump in my throat as I carefully stand and spin around.

Who’s bathing whom? Iknowthey aren’t speaking about me. I must’ve heard wrong.

Mason’s still sitting on his rock, holding eye contact as he leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees. Kie hasn’t moved, but he’s now glaring at the side of Mason’s head. I bet he didn’t want me to hear that.

A long silence stretches before Kie turns toward me, his expression unreadable.

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