Page 15 of The Dragon King's Curse
My cheeks warmed as my thoughts raced down a forbidden path. Gods I was spending too much time in this place. It was making me crazy too.
Before I could properly chastise myself, the main door to the prison opened, and several guards entered. Immediately, the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Something was happening.
The guards approached the iron bars. One of them acted as the leader, barking orders at us.
“On your feet. The king wishes to see you. All of you. Try anything and you will be used as an example to the rest.”
Miranda and I exchanged a worried look. Had the king tired of keeping us? Were we being brought before a firing squad of sorts?
We had no choice but to follow the guard’s instructions. We were ordered from the cell one by one, moving in single file from the building. The guards surrounded us on every side. Some held swords, others held clubs. Some held nothing at all other than the magick they possessed, ready to use it.
Being cut off from my magick was perhaps the worst part of this experience. Being so greatly weakened left me uneasy. I had absolutely no way to defend myself.
Miranda walked ahead of me, following the humans who shuffled along, one almost falling down due to weakness. A few steps behind me was Noxx. I felt his steady stare on the back of my head. Not once did I dare turn around and meet his eyes.
Dusk had settled over the land. We were ushered around the back of the castle. A large, sprawling green lawn with well-kept gardens greeted us. The king and his son were both there, surrounded by several other fae dressed like those with high status among their kind. Fancy attire with gleaming jewels on their fingers and around their necks. A combination of men and women.
We were brought before the king, stopping several feet away. When we didn’t immediately bow down to him, the guards smacked the backs of our legs, forcing us to our knees.
As Noxx knelt next to me, I grew keenly aware of his closeness. What a joke it would be if the two of us should die together today.
Atlas waited for us all to grow increasingly uncomfortable before speaking. Finally, he said, “Today the six of you will entertain my guests and myself. This may be your only breakfrom the prison, so I’d advise you to find the bright side of this special occasion.”
Lyre snickered, enjoying our discomfort. “What an interesting way to tell them they’re about to be hunted, Father. Might as well cut to the chase. No need to try to dress it up. It is what it is.”
Hunted? What in the gods’ names was he talking about?
Atlas shot a glare in his son’s direction. “Yes, well, let’s get right to it, shall we? Every year I host an event for some of my closest friends and allies.” He gestured to those surrounding him with a sweep of his hand. “This year I’ve decided on a hunt. The six of you will be set loose in the forest behind the castle. You’ll be given a generous head start before the rest of us come after you. Should you survive until sunrise, you will live. If we catch you before the sun makes its appearance, you will die. Any questions?”
The six of us were quiet until Noxx spoke up. “What’s your idea of a generous head start?”
“Good of you to ask.” Atlas’s gaze grew especially cold when he looked at Noxx. I suspected their meeting hadn’t gone the way he’d hoped. “We will allow you half an hour to make your way into the forest. Hide. Run. Create a makeshift weapon. Do what you think will keep you alive until morning.”
“And if we escape the forest?” The human man’s voice was broken and hoarse. He struggled to meet Atlas’s icy stare.
“Impossible.” Lyre jumped in, even though the question hadn’t been addressed to him. “The forest has been ordered to allow no escape. It will never let you out, not as long as we command it so.”
Shit. So much for any hope of escape. Even if we made it to morning light, we would be forced back to the prison. The fae land was as magickal as my homeland. Their lands were known for trickery and deceit. If they wanted the forest to keepus trapped within it, then such a thing would not be overcome. Not without magick of one’s own, and even then it may not be enough.
“Are we to do this without our own magick?” There was strength in Miranda’s voice. “That doesn’t seem fair.”
Atlas grinned. “No, it doesn’t, does it? You are prisoners. Nothing about your time here will be fair nor should it be.”
Next to me, Miranda clenched her teeth, most likely biting back a nasty insult or stream of curses. Atlas may have been a vile man yet it was his son who really triggered my instincts. Something told me that he was far worse. Far more sadistic and vicious. If he was engaging in this hunt, I would do everything in my power to evade him.
“My people won’t bargain with you if I’m dead,” I said, trying to appeal to his good sense. “My father will pay a healthy ransom to free me. He’ll be willing to negotiate. If I don’t make it until sunrise, he will simply wage war.”
Atlas opened his mouth to speak, but again Lyre interjected. “He only needs to believe that you’re alive. By the time he learns the truth, we’ll already have taken what we want from him. You shouldn’t be so quick to assume that we won’t simply kill him as well. My advice to you would be don’t get caught.”
As I’d suspected. Absolutely evil. The Fae Prince would one day rule as king. The gods help us all. Someone needed to make sure that never happened.
When nobody else voiced a question or concern, we were taken to the edge of the castle property where the forest began. We were released into the forest, one at a time, a few minutes apart. It seemed to be the King’s way of keeping us from forming partnerships. Every prisoner for him or herself.
I had every intention of finding Miranda once I was inside the forest. I didn’t want to face this alone.
The starved human was the first to be released into the forest. Seeing as he was the weakest among us, it seemed only fair that he was allowed to go first. The fae prisoner went after each human. Then Miranda and then me. They saved Noxx for last.
As I entered into the forest, I felt a strange sensation sweep over me. The forest was alive, as all forests were, yet this one felt different. Almost malicious in nature. It too had been a victim of the darkness the king had called into his realm. Even the rising moon overhead looked different here. A three-quarter moon. Thankfully enough light to guide my way.
