Page 65 of The Lost Princess

Oh.

I cleared my throat awkwardly and shifted back into my human form. In my emotion I hadn’t even noticed a change. I would need to be careful of that. One of the younger girls came forward, one hand pointing shakily at me. “Me mam told me stories. About men with wings. Drakens, right?”

The other women whipped their heads around to look at her in astonishment, then back to me for an answer.

“Yes.”

The girl lowered her hand, and took a step forward. “They … they say …” she trailed off, obviously terrified of me. I made an effort to relax my muscles and appear less threatening.

She steadied herself, and tried again. “They say Drakens fought with humans in the war. The demon wars.”

My face scrunched. I wasn’t entirely sure what she was talking about, but it felt familiar. Like discovering an old toy that you thought was lost forever.

“Perhaps. I have been away for a long time.”

The female seemed to gain confidence from our interaction. “Yes, you fought with us. Then you all disappeared. And we lost the war.” Her eyes grew accusing. I didn’t like how they all looked at me now.

I blinked at her. “I honestly do not know what happened. I have lived across the mountain for a long time. I barely have any memories of my childhood,” I pleaded with them to understand.

The harsh looks didn’t disappear.

I ran a hand through my hair. “Do you all wish a turn from the waterskin? I can refill it and return. But you must take turns. No fighting.”

Their eyes gleamed greedily, forgetting all about a history lesson.

It took several trips to ensure all of them were satisfied. While I waited for them to drink, they told me what they knew about the Demon Wars and the role of my people.

“We were winning. We were close or so the stories go. Then the drakens disappeared, and we lost. The demons and their allies rule. ”

I chewed my lip thoughtfully as the last girl drank her fill. “One memory I do have is of a great fire—an eruption of the volcano on my home island. I think … I think everyone might have died,” I choked out. I guess it hadn’t felt real until I said it out loud.

A sudden thought occurred to me, my heart dropping into my chest. Holy fright—what if I was the last draken living?

No, no, that was clearly untrue. Others made it out or Kaida wouldn’t exist. This quelled my building panic, but only mildly. It meant that everyone I had known before was likely dead.

The female’s gazes grew more sympathetic and also tinged with disappointment. “That would make sense, I suppose,” one admitted.

The last girl handed my waterskin back. The females explained they were slaves specifically for this breeding manor. When they weren’t with child, they did manual labor and tended to the fields. I learned that the creatures I’d met in the woods were likely these demon overlords they kept referencing. I would have to be careful if drakens had been their enemy during the war.

“Before I go, do you happen to know where the draken island is?” I asked, trying to not appear too hopeful. If they knew, it would save me much time. There was a light tugging in my chest that I felt was leading me, but I was hesitant to trust my instincts. I’d been wild and feral for too long.

“Lyoness?” one suggested. As the name left her lips, it was like a gong ringing in my ears.

Yes.Yes. Lyoness. Hearing it said out loud made it feel real. Finally.

More memories came as visions of jungles and waterfalls filled my mind, as well as flying over the volcano, and diving into the ocean with my friends. It existed! It was real!

“It’s said to be off the coast of Dorea, due east. That’s all I know, and it’s still only myth and legends passed down by the women here.”

I nodded my thanks, my feet already pointing due east. At the last moment I turned my back, their faces full of wonder as they watched me leave.

“Take turns getting water. It is not worth it. Help each other. You will survive longer,” I implored them.

Their eyes flicked to the ground, embarrassed. One in particular drew my attention—a young girl, no more than two, tied to another woman’s back with a cloth harness. The girl’s brown hair and eyes were unremarkable. She was ordinary by any standards, including humans. There was no reason my interest should be piqued by her at all.

And yet I stared.

The girl stared back.

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