Page 88 of The Cursed Kingdom

I’d try my luck at killing Mason if I could heal so quickly.

“A truce,” Kie repeats.

He’s talking to himself, and it’s starting to get sad. He seems to come to the same conclusion as he storms toward Mason. Kie can be frightening when he wants to be, and I step back as he grabs Mason’s face and forces the shifter’s attention onto him.

The two are similar in height, and after seeing them fight, I’d say they’re pretty evenly matched. There’s still a constant power struggle between the two, though, one I’m quickly realizing is entertaining to witness.

Maybe that power struggle is why Kie is so into Mason.

I wonder who would fuck whom. My initial guess would’ve been that Mason would fuck Kie, but now I wonder if they would switch on and off, as they’ve been doing here.

Mason meets Kie’s gaze, and I wish I knew what was going through his head as he licks his lips and smiles. I’ve never seen Mason smile, and I’d say he has a nice one if I didn’t hate him so much.

He has one of those smiles that screamI know something you don’t know, which I’ll admit I’ve historically been a sucker for. I’ve always had a love for guys who treat me like shit, and they always have one of those smiles.

“A truce?” Mason asks, sounding amused.

Kie continues holding Mason’s jaw, refusing to let him turn away. Mason’s lips twitch as his eyes shift toward me.

I fight the urge to shrink into myself.

“And you’ll stop trying to run away?” Mason asks.

Is he actually considering this? I’ve already mentally decided that running away isn’t worth the trouble, but these two don’t know that.

After a moment’s hesitation, I nod. “Yes.”

Kie releases Mason, and the shifter works his jaw side to side, as if the grip hurt. I should remember not to get on Kie’s bad side.

Kie’s hands come together with a loud clap. “Great, then it’s settled.”

He’s beaming, his lips pulled into a satisfied smile. His violet eyes practically shine as he walks toward me, his muscular frame surprisingly lithe. When he gets within arm’s distance, I step away.

I don’t want him too close.

Mason scans my wrapped knees as he finishes the last of his packing. He’s evaluating my work, and after a long moment of stillness, he seems to decide it’s good enough and turns away. I suppose I should take it as a good sign he’s no longer going on about how he can smell my infection.

I’m sure the dehydration comments will begin again the second I pee, though.

I have not one bit of privacy between these two.

“Lead the way,” Kie chirps, gesturing for me to begin walking.

He and Mason have always been the ones to set our pace, and I don’t trust him giving that control over to me. It feels fake, but when a good minute passes and nobody moves, I start walking.

Kie and Mason quickly fall into step on either side of me. It’s a new walking position, and I can’t say I’m a fan. I prefer it when we walk in a straight line, and I don’t like how they crowd me in. It makes me painfully aware of how small I am beside them, especially when they hold silent conversations over my head.

An hour passes before I can’t take it any longer.

“So…” I start, trailing off.

Walking in a single-file line was more structured, and I didn’t feel the need to fill the silence between us with words. It was also helpful that most of our traveling was done at night.Darkness equals silence—everybody knows that—but sunlight begs for conversation.

“How long has Kie been in love with you?” I ask Mason.

The shifter peers at Kie over my head, his lips downturned. “Why does she keep asking that? What did you say to her?”

Kie snorts, sounding mildly offended by the accusation. I don’t see what there is to be offended about. There’s no shame in unrequited love.

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