Page 16

“The girl you brought here last night.”

“I bring a lot of girls here.” I wink and nudge her shoulder with my arm

“Eww, disgusting. That’s not what I meant, and you know it. Stop deflecting.”

“Look who’s been reading the dictionary again. You must be careful with that too—you know how the queen feels about educated young women.”

“I know my role—be seen, not heard,” she mocks me. “Plus, it’s not like I have much else to read, considering all the books have been banished to some godforsaken relic of a castle on the other side of the mountains.”

“How do you know you—? Never mind. I don’t want to know. Just remember, don’t be seen, don’t be heard. The plan is to always be silent, be invisible. No voice equals no threat,” I remind her.

“Good thing I’m not pretty.” She sighs, and it’s a knife to my black heart. “Since beauty could make me a target too.”

“Hey, look at me. You know you are. But I won’t curse you by telling you the words you need to hear. But you are, Birdy. Inside and out.” My hand reaches up to cover the side of her face covered in a wine-colored stain. Her birthmark is the only thing that has kept her from the queen’s wrath… so far.

“I wish we had a different life far away from here.” She sniffles. Me too.

“Maybe someday, but for now, that’s not an option. Promise me, Birdy. You won’t be asking questions. You have to stay away, regardless if she’s a prisoner or a guest.”

“So, it is a she?” Her eyes light with mischief, even still brimming with tears.

“Yes,” I whisper. “And that’s all I’m saying on the matter.”

“What are you going to do to her?”

“Whatever needs to be done.”

“Now you sound like Father.”

I wish I could say she meant it as a compliment, but we both know it’s not.

Our father served as head of the King’s Guard until it became the Queen’s Guard, and then she stripped him of his nobility and made him work twice as hard to prove his loyalty as her personal huntsman. Until he failed, and I was forced to take his place. As the heir, with his rare mystical bloodline and inherited skill for trapping and hunting, I was left with no choice, and I stepped into his role.

Betrayal was my birthright. Treachery, my teacher. And the queen was the evil voice that whispered her darkest desires into my ear. I made them come true. All of them.

My skin shudders at the things I’ve done—of the things I overheard him tell my mother that he was forced to do, all to protect us.

Now that responsibility is all mine.

“What do you know of it? You know nothing about sacrifice.” I regret my hateful words.

I immediately regret my hateful words as she jumps up to storm off, my tone of voice striking a nerve within her. I reach out and grab her hand and she jerks it away.

“Promise me. Promise me, Birdy. I want to hear you say the words. Tell me that you won’t go near the keep—” That’s the inner cell of the dungeon, reserved for the queen’s “special” guests.

“I promise,” she lies through her pretty white teeth and turns to walk out of the room.

Collecting my things and sheathing my sword, I pull myself together before heading off in search of some coffee.

And answers.

If that means I have to play the villain, so be it. That’s the price I’ll pay.

I try not to think about the beautiful girl with the raven hair and sad eyes, her blood red lips begging to be kissed.

I might have been tasked with hunting her, but she’s the one haunting me.

Chapter 6