Page 84 of The Cursed Kingdom

Not that it would matter too much if she did. I’m confident I’ll know my mate when I meet her, and I feel nothing for this woman except for aggravation. I can’t wait to give the human to Zaha and no longer have to deal with her weak frame and angry temperament.

Several minutes pass, but she doesn’t move. She’s not asleep. I know that for a fact, but she’s also not really awake. I don’t like it, and I let out an annoyed breath before wiggling my body on top of hers to try to jolt some movement from her.

It doesn’t work, and Kie laughs.

“What’re you doing?” he asks.

Ignoring you.

I wiggle once more. I’ve had enough of this, and I’m ready for the human to be angry with me again. I’m willing to admit I may have gone too far by saying what the trolls would do to her if they found her. I wasn’t lying, but she didn’t need to hear it. We’d never let them put their hands on her, so it’s not something she ever needed to know.

The trolls are nasty, little creatures.

If the human is still distant and quiet tomorrow, I’ll tell her they’re afraid of fire. I don’t want to give her information that would help her should she ever actually escape us, but I’mwilling to give her small crumbs if it means she starts acting normal again.

Wiggling on top of her doesn’t seem to work, but I continue doing so. Maybe she’s still cold.

I already know Kie’s going to mock me for this, but somebody needs to keep the stupid human alive and I don’t see him doing anything to help. I rub my belly against the human’s side before letting quiet vibrations seep from my chest.

It’s an intimate noise that shifters typically only make in private situations, but I’m desperate enough to try it.

Kie slams a hand over his mouth, and I kick out my leg. My foot lands right where I want it, against Kie’s ribs, and cuts his laughter short. He’s been bothering me more than usual these past few days, specifically since we met the human.

He was supposed to kill her, yet here I am vibrating on top of her like a domestic animal. I’m tired of it, tired of him, and I can’t wait until we’re back in Bellmere and I can retire to my bedroom and put some much-needed space between us.

Chapter Thirty-Three

ABBY

HOW LONG IS Mason planning to lie on me and purr?

I stare at the ground, undecided if I should get up and try to push him away or lie here and accept my inevitable death. I’m leaning toward the latter. I’m cold, wet, and miserable, and death isn’t feeling like the worst thing in the world anymore.

“I think she’s warm enough, Mace,” Kie says.

He’s sitting by my feet. I often feel him brush against me as he shifts, but he’s been quiet. He’ll occasionally mumble something to Mason, but I haven’t been paying attention.

I don’t care much for what he has to say. This was my second failed attempt to escape, and I know I won’t get another.

Even if I find a good opening, I’m too weak and tired to try. I haven’t been getting enough food, water, or sleep, and the energy and calories my body burned trying to keep me warm this evening have pushed me over the edge.

I’m exhausted, both mentally and physically, and I’m tired of trying. I give up.

Let them kill me or give me away to Zaha—I don’t care.

Kie sighs. “Mace…”

He told Mason to get off me about ten minutes ago, but Mason ignored him then and seems intent to do the same now. He probably thinks his purring is threatening and scary, but I think it makes him sound like a housecat. An oversized, barely trained housecat.

I tap my fingers against the ground, counting the seconds.

I must admit that Mason is warm, and the tarp above us is a godsend. The raindrops are loud as they hit it, drowning out my thoughts. Not that I have many. I’m doing my best not to think, and so far, I’m doing a pretty stellar job.

Mason kicks up his purring and begins wiggling on top of me a moment later. When he and Kie appeared, the last thing I expected him to do was lie on me, but it’s been hours and he’s showing no signs of stopping.

I don’t understand the purpose.

It’s probably a weird shifter trait. Maybe they like to cover their meals with their scent before they eat them. Or perhaps he’s just doing this to fuck with me. That feels like something Mason would do.

---