Page 43 of The Cursed Kingdom

I’m preferably going to do it before these men settle on a decision on whether or not to gift me to Zaha. I have no idea what gods are like, but by the sounds of it, I don’t think I’ll enjoy what I find.

Mason eyes me, his lips pursed as he debates Kie’s suggestion. I thought Kie was the nice one of the two—that was my first impression—but now I’m not so sure. Nice people don’t suggest gifting others. In fact, I’d say they’re more likely to do the opposite.

I wish Samuel had been my mate. It would’ve made everything so much easier, and I doubt I’d be in this situationright now. He would’ve helped me with Lill, probably with no questions asked.

“I’d rather kill her,” Mason says.

I take back what I said. Kie is the nicer of the two. That isn’t saying much.

Kie hums and leans against the tree Mason was just choking me against.

My throat still burns, each breath like fire, but I push the pain aside. I need to keep a clear head, and panicking won’t get me anywhere. It doesn’t help.

Mason clears his throat. “You know what the gods do with humans.”

No, I most definitely donotknow what the gods do with humans. As far as I’m aware, we don’t have any portals in the human realm, nor do we have any knowledge of the gods. The most popular religions on our planet tell us there’s one god, and He hasn’t made an appearance in a long while.

Maybe the human government has some super-secret information they’re keeping from the general public. It’s possible, but I honestly doubt it. We have giant music boxes in space, for fuck’s sake. We’ve practically turned our planet into a beacon for stronger species to come and kill us. That doesn’t give me a lot of confidence in the intelligence of humans.

“Zaha doesn’t treat humans that way,” Kie says. “And she’s always in need of new slaves.”

Mason shakes his head, quickly turning down the idea. “And what happens when Zaha rejects our offer and one of her brothers steps in to claim the human?”

Kie and Mason stare one another down. They’re occupied, and neither pays me any mind as I begin sliding away. I’m unfortunately at arm’s length from the pair, but I’d love to get several steps away before making a run for it.

They’re debating whether to kill me now or offer me up to Zaha, and I’m not going to stick around to see what solution they come to.

Coming here was a mistake. I should’ve waited until the rumors about the princes died down. I rushed into the forest, fully aware of the risk of running into them. I just didn’t think it was a real possibility. What are the odds we crossed paths? Next to impossible.

Everything I’ve done is for Lill, but it won’t mean anything if I’m killed before getting her the damn delysum. Her sickness will worsen until she eventually dies, and this entire thing will have been pointless.

“We obviously wouldn’t give her to one of Zaha’s brothers,” Kie says.

Mason cocks his head to the side. “Areyougoing to be the one to tell the gods they can’t have her?Because I sure will not be.”

I take another step away. Leaves crunch under my feet, the sound making my heart pound, but neither Mason nor Kie seems to clock the noise. That’s good, and I fist the straps of my backpack before taking another cautious step back.

I’m three steps away from the pair now.

“We’ll tell them she has a blood disease,” Kie says. “The brothers won’t want her if they think her blood is poisoned.”

A blood disease? What the fuck are these gods doing that they’d be interested in my blood? I’m pretty sure I read a book once where blood was harvested to keep people looking young. Although I don’t see why poisoned blood would keep Zaha’s brothers away.

My hands shake, and I take another step back. I’ve never felt terror like this before, raw fear bubbling up my gut until I can practically feel it in my burning throat.I can’t breathe. I don’t want to die.

“I suppose,” Mason says. “We can tie her up outside the portal and fetch her after we’ve discussed it with Zaha. I’d rather kill her than give her to Zaha’s brothers. It’s the humane thing to do.”

Humane.

I take that as my cue to leave.

Blood rushes through my ears, the noise deafening as I turn to the left and make a run for it. I have no idea what direction I’m facing or where I’m going, but I’ll worry about that later. My hands are so sweaty, even my gloves have trouble wicking the moisture away, the sheer amount of which must be a new record.

My arms pump as I sprint between the trees, weaving through them with speed and agility even I’m impressed by.

I don’t hear anything behind me, not the stomping of feet nor heavy breathing I’d anticipate hearing if I were being chased. I know better than to trust that, though. Kie was silent when he snuck up on me.

I need to get out of here. It’s the only thought running through my mind, the only thing I can focus on. I knew this was dangerous and maybe a bit foolish, but I never truly considered the possibility of failing.

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