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The king’s thick hand slides into my underwear, touching me in places I had given freely to only one man once before—a man I planned to marry, not this cruel one.
I must flinch, but I don’t mean to. I swear it.
He freezes, gripping me until I cry out. “Bring the whip. This one still needs to be broken.”
“No, please!” I scream.
My own scream wakes me. Tears flow down my face unchecked, and my throat is raw from screaming. That’s when I hear knocking at the door. I’m surprised they didn’t just kick it down, but I’m thankful they did not.
“I’m okay,” I croak. I know they hear me because the knocking stops, but pain lashes at me. I am so broken, I can’t even sleep. Memories cling to me even now, making me want to scrub at myself and scream.
That’s when another noise penetrates my hazy senses—soft, beautiful singing.
A deep voice for sure, but no less mesmerizing. One of them is singing, and I don’t think it’s Kaito since I heard him singing the other day while he was cooking and it sounded like birds screeching. No, it must be the wolf. Lifting my head, I slide closer to the door, needing to hear better. Something about the sound settles my racing heart and soothes the jagged edges of my soul.
It grows in strength, and I almost weep until I realize my back is to the door to listen better. When it stops, I almost want to demand he carry on. For that short amount of time, I thought of nothing but his singing and the story he was weaving.
“Are you okay?” His voice still has a slight growl, as if he cannot help it, but it’s also probably as soft as he can make it.
“Please don’t stop. Sing, talk to me, anything, just distract me,” I beg before snapping my mouth shut.
There’s silence for a moment, and I almost shrink away in shame when his soft, growling voice comes again. “The vines are coming down at the wall. It means monsters are free. Some have left the Dead Lands in search of a better life, though I don’t know if they will find it. Most are still scared of humans, and most humans still have not crossed the barrier, but I heard rumors, even deep in my den, that the new queen plans to change thatand integrate the races.” Cora. My heart softens at the mention of my strong, willful sister. If anyone can change everything, it’s her. “I do not know how it will go, but things are changing with the humans, or so they say. Monsters are growing bolder, the magic here is free, and the land seems to be healing.” He keeps talking, and I want to ask questions but I am too afraid, so I just settle back and listen to him share information about a land I planned to leave.
“The new queen is doing well. She holes up between castles here and there. Her monsters are always around her. I hope this means change, but I also know this could end badly. Only time will tell if history plans to repeat itself. I hear whispers that not everyone is happy with the change.” I almost feel him shrugging through the wood. “It is better this way though, I think. Things should change. We have been trapped for too long.” He sighs. “I know all about that. Even amongst monsters, I am an anomaly, the only one left—a lycan without a pack. Most can no longer change or have accepted the way they are. I seem to be stuck between. What is left of my pack mates who did not perish or give into the darkness rotting our souls have become nothing but beasts you hear the faint howls of. They died in an attack on our home. Others saw our weakness, our dwindling numbers, and wanted the safety of our dens. It is all about survival in the Dead Lands, or at least it was. I lost them all. I was the only one who survived, and I have been wandering ever since, alone and lost, almost giving into the monster like the others until the other day, when I smelled you. Something in me refused to give up and told me that I was needed. I’m glad I came when I did, and hopefully, when you feel like you can, you will open this door and we can get to know each other better.”
I turn my head, pressing my cheek to the wood. I would like that. I misjudged him. He is just as alone and lost as I am. How could he ever be evil? He saved me. However, fear is a fickle andmonstrous emotion to conquer, and like wars, it is fought one battle at a time.
His voice tapers off, and he slowly begins to sing once more, filling the night with a story of woe, loss, beauty, and love.
My eyes close once more as he sings, and I slip into a peaceful, dreamless sleep.
Chapter
Seven
KAITO
It has been days since I have seen Kai. I miss her hesitant smile, having her eyes on me, and being able to take care of her. I know she is struggling with the same thing that makes her fearful of touch and change, but I hope she trusts me and herself enough to venture out soon. Until then, I collect wood, food, and water to leave for her like clockwork. The lycan, who told me his name is Weyland, helps. I was wary at first and hesitant about what he wants from my Kai, but he has proven to be nothing but dependable. He gives her space, sings to her when her nightmares become too much, and has never once pushed her.
He is slicing wood with his claws while I prepare a fish when I hear the creak of the door opening. I freeze. I want to leap to my feet and rush to her, but I do not look at her, instead focusing on the fish. I know Weyland heard her too, his ears twitching before he continues slicing slower and softer, as if worried he’ll scare her even with that.
For a moment, I hear nothing else, and then there is a shuffle. It is torture, worse than anything the king did to me, to not look, until her shadow falls across me. Only then do I lift myhead and meet her hesitant eyes. Her hands are clasped before her, twisted in worry. She shakes ever so slightly, and her eyes are too wide, but she is here.
She is so brave and even more beautiful.
“Hi,” she says softly.
“Hi, are you hungry?” I ask, unsure what to say, not wanting her to retreat. Weyland moves closer, placing wood into the fire we built. She eyes him with a hesitant smile but keeps her distance, her shoulders tense.
“We have not been properly introduced. I am Weyland.” He holds out his hand like the humans do, his fingers tipped with long, sharp black nails and covered in the same fur as his body.
She watches it for a while before rounding her shoulders and laying her hand in his. It’s a big deal for her, and watching her overcome her fear makes something inside me twist. I watch him shudder and close his eyes.
“I’m Kai. Thank you . . . well, for everything.”
“Of course,bacca,” he purrs.
Blushing, she pulls her hand away and frowns at him, but when she moves to my side, I almost grin in victory. “I was hoping to wash in the river if that’s okay?” she asks me.
