Page 90 of The Cursed Kingdom

“Are humans familiar with the idea of soulmates?” Kie asks.

I pretend I can’t hear him.

“Are they?”

I can practically feel the heat of his gaze on the side of my head, and I wish he’d look where he was walking instead of at me. My irritation grows, reaching a peak I didn’t realize was possible as the seconds tick on and Kie doesn’t let up.

Eventually, I give a curt nod, confirming humans are familiar with the term.

Kie’s lips split into a wide smile. This is the first time I’ve acknowledged him, and I can tell he’s feeling good about it.

“That’s good,” he says. “And you’re aware that faeries and shifters have them? We share bonds that are ignited by touch. That’s why we wear gloves.”

Samuel already told me this. I can’t put into words what I would give to have my first faerie friend here with me. I may not have known Samuel long, but I enjoyed our short time together. He was friendly, and I didn’t feel like ripping my hair out whenever he spoke.

“Mason and I share a mate, but not a bond,” Kie explains. “Our mate connects us, though. That’s why Mason can’t kill me, despite his many attempts. Forked bonds aren’t common, but they aren’t unheard of. I’m the first royal in recorded existence with one.”

That, I didnotknow. I have several follow-up questions, but I bite my tongue. Kie’s trying to bait me into speaking, and I won’t fall for it. My expression must show my interest, though, as Kie continues.

“Are you wondering if it’s rare for there to be a forked mate bond between a faerie and shifter?”

Iamwondering that, but it’ll be a cold day in hell before I ask.

“It’sincrediblyrare.” A beat of silence then. “Are you wondering why Mason and I wear black gloves?”

I bite the inside of my cheek, fighting the urge to snap at him to shut up and leave me alone. As interested as I am in this particular topic, I don’t want to speak to Kie. I’m tired of him trying to force conversation.

I’ll talk when I’m good and ready, which will very likely be never.

Mason turns toward Kie, and after a long, drawn-out stare, he speaks for the first time in hours.

“Leave the human alone.”

My steps momentarily falter, and I drag my feet against the ground as I hurry to regain my usual gait. Did Mason just voluntarily defend me? He must have hit his head while leading the shifters off our trail.

He’s concussed. That’s the only explanation.

Kie hums, seeming to contemplate Mason’s order before returning his attention to me.

“Do you wish for me to stop speaking?”

I nod.

Kie smirks. “I’m going to need you to use your words, little bug.”

Little bug?I faintly recall him calling me that when we first met, and I disliked it then just as much as I do now. He’s only saying it to make me mad. He’s succeeding.

“Yes.” I hiss the word through my teeth.

Kie cocks his head to the side. “Yes? Yes, what?”

Yes, I want to stab you in the eye and watch you bleed out. Yes, I want to grab one of the large rocks scattered about and slam it against your head until it’s turned to mush. Yes, I want your brain matter to seep into the mud our feet sink into with every step. Yes, I want you to be bitten by a snake and your blood to coagulate until your skin turns blue and you die. Yes, I want you to watch your entire bloodline die and yes, I want to watch you watch it happen. Then I want you to die.

“Careful, bug,” Kie says, interrupting my thoughts. “Violence excites Mason. You’ll rile him up if you keep thinking such bad things about me.”

Mason sighs, the sound full of poorly concealed annoyance. I’m glad I’m not the only one. Still, my cheeks grow warm as what Kie just said registers. I never want torileMason up.

Kie and Mason are arguably attractive men. They’re tall and broad, and their faces look like they’re carved from fuckingmarble, but I want nothing to do with them. I’m sure the women back in the capital fawn over them, but unlike those women, I have standards.

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