Page 61 of Heart of the Raven Prince

Finally, we’ve come to the real matter at hand.

I had expected her to play with me a little more before getting to the point. Leaning closer to Arawyn, I say in a deathly quiet voice, “You do, as well. Or else she would be dead by now.”

“Careful with your tone, son. I don’t need you nearly as much as you think I do. Maybe the human still lives because I am bored,” she says that part loud enough for the whole court to hear. Arawyn smirks, leaning in to meet me, cupping her hand under my chin. Her razor sharp nails prick into my skin as she drops her voice for only me and says, “Do you remember how we used to rip the Offsprings apart? Can you still recall what it felt like to tear their flesh from their bones with your teeth? You were so insatiable in those first few decades.”

Oh, yes. I remember. Guilt twists in my gut, stabbing like a blade as images of blood and gore flash before my eyes. Their horrified faces are etched into my soul, their screams haunt my nightmares. The things I did to them…the things the queen commanded me to do. I know they are why I’ll be forever damned. That was centuries ago, when I tore through the realm like a plague. Starting with the Offsprings, and ending with seeing the light fade from my parents’ eyes. I’ll never forget what it felt like to slide a blade into my mother’s heart moments after she breathed her final words to me.

Do not splinter yourself, son.

“If you’re bored, then lets play a game.”

No.

An unsettled silence falls over the court, tension growing thick in the air. The queen’s eyes narrow on me for a split second before she sits up tall, once more tapping a restless tune on her throne. Her attention is now solely on Fawn, who is so gods-damned foolish enough to speak.

“I see you haven’t taught your pet obedience,” Lochlan drawls, but quickly shuts up when Arawyn raises her hand to demand silence.

“You have one chance to give me a reason why I shouldn’t let my court pass you around until you are nothing but an empty corpse.” She’s still holding me with one hand, digging her fingers into my face. I can't turn to look at Fawn. To tell her with my eyes to shut the fuck up.

“You said you were bored, so I’m proposing we play a game.” How Fawn is able to keep her voice so completely free of fear I don’t think I will ever understand. I asked her once if she was brave or simply stupid, I can’t help but wonder the same thing now. “You don’t think I have magic, and Caden does. Aren’t you curious to see who is right?”

An unsteady murmur begins to whip through the court. I can feel the invisible noose tightening around my neck. We are one wrong move away from utter failure. Arawyn’s eyes have not moved from Fawn, and I can’t tell if that’s a good sign or not.

“Arawyn—” I try to say when her nails dig in further.

“Be silent,” she snarls. She opens her jaw wide, and I see her cheeks beginning to split as the monster begins to shed its skin. Then she freezes, her mouth snapping shut. Arawyn’s crimson gaze glazes over and she tilts her head to the side. Listening. A heartbeat passes. Two. Then, one by one, she pulls her nails out of my skin and drops her hold on my face. Rising from her throne, Arawyn begins to descend the dais.

I whip around, listening to Fawn's heart rate speed up. She’s taking in quick, sharp inhales. At least this woman has the good sense to have some fear. The queen’s power is a leviathan, dominating in every sense of the word. I have become numb to it over these last two centuries caged within her court, but even I still get caught off guard by it. Especially in moments like now, when I know I am teetering on the edge of losing the only hope of freedom I know I will ever have.

Arawyn takes slow, deliberate steps toward her. Fawn has stopped breathing entirely, staring ahead at the pearls covering the queen’s body. Arawyn sticks the tip of a pointed nail under Fawn’s chin and raises it up until they are staring at each other. Leaning in, she murmurs, “Very well. It has been some time since I’ve had a challenge.”

Dropping her hand from under Fawn’s chin, she swirls around, her strings of pearls whipping Fawn across her legs in the process. Glimpses of her naked body flash between the many swaying strands as she saunters back up to the throne.

“A game it is,” Arawyn calls, her voice echoing around the court. “You will train her, Caden, but I will test her. Three trials, three tests to prove to me that this pathetic human girl can possibly hope to control a horde of my creations. Three chances are all you get, Caden.”

“And if I fail?” I ask, slowly rising and stepping away from her throne. She sits with a flourish, flashing me a grimace.

“You should hope you don’t. If you fail me, there are no other chances. For you or her.” She crooks her finger at me. Slowly, I lean down until my ear is pressed next to her lips. “What I have done to you so far will feel like a blessing compared to what I have planned.”

I jerk upright, marching down the stairs and heading straight toward Fawn. She’s wise enough to balk at the unbridled rage in my face. What is it going to take to get this woman to listen to me? Grabbing Fawn’s arm, I don’t wait another second before I’m opening a rift into my apartment and shoving her through. Before I step over the threshold, I look up at the queen and ask, “When will the first trial be held?”

“Whenever my creations are hungry enough.”

She offers me no other insight. Swallowing hard, I step through the rift and slam it shut behind us. There is no telling how long we have until the first trial, she could send for us within the next five minutes if she wanted to. But Arawyn said she wanted a challenge, so I cling to the hope that she will at least give me a fighting chance.

Fawn is already scurrying up the stairs, trying to dart away from me.

Oh, hell no. You’re not getting off that easy.

She rushes to her door, grabbing the doorknob and making to yank it open. I pounce, covering her hand with mine and keeping the door shut. Her front is plastered against the door as I press my chest against her back, placing my lips directly next to her ear. “You’re very bad at listening.”

“Get off me,” she grunts, trying to shove me off her. I press in closer. “She was moments away from letting her entire court have a turn with me. I’m not going to apologize for saving my own skin while you were busy groveling.” I drop my hand from her instantly and take several steps back. Her breath hitches and she spins around.

Silence stretches between us as I try to hide the hurt I'm certain is clear in my eyes.

For once, she has nothing clever to say.

“Shit, Caden, I didn’t mean—”