Page 71 of The Cursed Kingdom

“Why are you asking about delysum, human?” Mason asks.

His voice is low, eerily similar to the one he used when he and Kie ambushed me in the woods. I think it’s meant to sound threatening, and it works. Goosebumps spread up my arms, and the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

I’m in danger.

A low rumble pours from Mason’s chest, the noise identical to the one that emerges from his animal form. The memory of his sharp teeth flashes through my mind, and I instinctively wince.

Nothing I say will satisfy him, and I’m better off remaining silent.

He and Kie kept me alive this long, and I doubt they’re willing to torture me for information. They won’t take the risk of other shifters smelling my blood or hearing my screams.

There are other things they can do to me, but I’m trying hard not to think about that. Even if they try to force me, I don’t think it would be enough to make me speak—to risk exposing Lill. She’s my sister in all but blood, and I don’t trust what they’d do to her if they found her.

Especially when she’s so weak.

A strong gust of wind could kill her.

Mason grunts, a hiss of pain slipping from his lips as he once again tries to sit up. Kie doesn’t push him down this time, instead helping him lean against the base of the closest tree.

“Figure out what she knows,” Mason orders Kie.

Kie shakes his head, shoving his items back into his bag. “Not right now. We don’t have time.” His gaze flashes to me, to his dried meat still sitting in my lap. With one quick movement, he snatches it from my hand and shoves it back into his bag. “We need to keep moving.”

He packs up his things quickly, his eyes continually darting around. The ground where Mason passed out is saturated with blood, much more than there should be. Mason should be dead. Still, his blood acts as a giant beacon, broadcasting to any nearby shifters exactly where we are.

I’m not particularly keen to find out what they’ll do if they find us. The first run-in was a clear enough indicator.

Mason is in no position to fight, and I’m still doubtful of Kie’s skills. I’d confidently bet on him in a fight against humans or faeries, but the shifters are fucking massive.

It’s like a child fighting an angry bear—hardly a competition.

“We need to know what she knows about delysum,” Mason argues.

I bite at my bottom lip, remaining quiet. Kie’s trying to shut down this conversation, and I hope he’ll continue doing so.

Mason shifts his focus toward me. “Speak, human!”

I open my mouth, but no sound emerges. I don’t know what to say.

Kie runs a hand through his hair before throwing his and Mason’s bags over his shoulders and rising. Mason pays him no attention until Kie drops a heap of damp clothing beside his leg.

“Get dressed,” Kie orders.

Mason sucks his cheeks into his mouth, looking thoroughly pissed. I wonder how often Kie commands him around like this. Judging by their interactions, I don’t think it’s too common. The two seem relatively evenly matched.

“Get dressed, Mace,” Kie repeats, his tone firm. “Do you need my help?”

That seems to be the wrong thing to ask, and I’m surprised steam doesn’t blow out of Mason’s ears as he glares up at Kie. Mason was the one who initially pushed us to be cautious about avoiding the shifters, but at the mention of delysum, all those concerns have fallen to the wayside.

Why is it so important to him? I don’t know much about the plant, other than that it keeps Lill alive and is used as a weapon by the shifters. Samuel spoke openly about it, so I don’t think its existence is a secret.

Mason glances between Kie and me, an angry snarl gracing his features, before reaching for his discarded clothing. They’restill damp from the river, which I take great satisfaction in. He and Kie deserve to be uncomfortable after what they did to me.

Mason grabs his black underwear before stopping and slamming them into the ground.

“Tell me what the fuck you know, woman,” he hisses. I jolt, shocked by the sudden hostility, as Mason continues. “Before I fucking rip—”

Kie shouts, cutting off Mason. “Get dressed!”

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