Page 77 of The Cursed Kingdom

I open my mouth, ready to repeat that I don’t know anything, but his grip tightens until all that comes out is a high-pitched squeak. Is he going to kill me if I say something he doesn’t like? He plans to give me to Zaha, but he doesn’thaveto. He and Kie planned on meeting her without me, and while I’m an added bonus, I’m not a necessity.

Mason leans forward, his breath hitting my face. I can’t help but notice that it doesn’t smell, but I’m sure mine does. There’s no way it doesn’t.

“Fucking talk,” he hisses.

Theor elseisn’t said, but it hangs heavily between us.

I don’t feel like I’m breathing. I fill my lungs with a deep inhale, but it doesn’t feel like any oxygen is being absorbed.

Mason shakes my arm, the movement so violent, my head bobs back and forth. He’s growing rough, and I wonder if he’llhit me. It’s a miracle he hasn’t already. I’m sure it’s in the back of his mind to do so.

“I overheard some faeries in Farbay talking about it,” I say, picking the first lie that comes to mind. “They said delysum is valuable, and I’m always in need of money.”

Mason shakes his head. “Liar.”

He can’t prove that. I overheard several private conversations while walking through the city, and there’s no reason this couldn’t have been one of them.

“What’s going on?” Kie’s voice rings out. He weaves smoothly between the trees, some strands of his dark-brown hair appearing almost blond in the sunlight.

Mason releases me, and I hurry back several steps.

“Mason?” Kie continues.

I lick my lips, glancing nervously between the pair. He obviously heard Mason questioning me, and I can’t help but find it oddly coincidental that he appeared when he did. They’re probably playing some version of good cop, bad cop, and I won’t fall for it.

I’ve seen enough movies and read enough books to know that things never turn out well for the person being questioned.

“I’m telling you the truth,” I tell the pair. “I overheard some faeries at a park in Farbay talking about delysum. They said it’s valuable on the underground markets, and I’m just trying to make some quick money.”

Mason scoffs, and Kie shoots him a sharp glare.

“Is that so?” Kie asks. I nod, and he continues. “And you’re aware that the cultivation, harvest, use, or selling of delysum is a capital offense, correct?”

I gulp. “No.”

It’s the truth.

Mason and Kie exchange another glance. Kie wears atold you solook, one I’ve grown familiar with seeing on my olderbrother’s face. Mason doesn’t look convinced. He thinks I know far more than I actually do.

He’s treating me like I’m some sort of hardened criminal, which is almost comical.

“She doesn’t know anything, Mace,” Kie says. “And even if she does, we don’t have time to question her. We can send our people to Farbay to investigate her claims once we return home.”

Mason blinks but doesn’t immediately respond. He’s probably trying to decide how far he wants to go with his questioning, and after several long seconds, he steps back and turns away, heading toward his bag.

Does this mean they’re going to drop the subject? Maybe not completely, but at least for now. I’d like to think that, but I’ve also learned that luck isn’t on my side.

Chapter Thirty

ABBY

DESPITE YESTERDAY’S INJURIES, Mason seems to be in good shape.Toogood shape. I follow behind him, staring at his torso as we make our way through the forest.

He could barely walk yesterday, hanging off Kie’s back like a sack of half-dead flesh, but today, he’s carrying himself with his head held high. There’s always the possibility that he’s hiding his pain, but if that were the case, I imagine I’d still catch the occasional grimace or adjustment.

I’ve seen nothing of the sort.

I lick my lips, glancing at his clothed form. Knowing Mason, it won’t take him long to remove his shirt. He almost always seems to be looking for an excuse to strip.

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