A Kingdom of Broken Bonds: A Standalone - part of the Brides of Darkness Series by Erin O'Kane

Author:Erin O'Kane [O'Kane, Erin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-06-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

The cold kiss of a blade against my cheek causes me to jump back a moment too late, and it nicks my skin. A tiny trickle of blood rolls down my face, and the darkness inside me surges to the surface, my fangs aching at the prospect of a meal. Apparently, even my own blood is appetising today, meaning I really need to feed.

“Hit,” Finnik calls out, indicating that not only has he scored a point, but it’s also time to take a break.

Cursing, I step back and sheathe my blade at my hip, reaching up to capture the bead of blood on my cheek. The wound has already healed thanks to my vampiric healing, and I cannot seem to stop myself from putting my finger in my mouth and sucking off the blood. It tingles over my tongue, and I almost close my eyes in bliss. It has been too long since I last fed, and I will not be able to ignore the need for much longer.

“You’re distracted today,” Finnik scolds as he walks over to the side of the training ring, grabbing his bottle of water.

He’s right. Ever since I returned to the castle last night, my mind has been turning, not giving me even a moment of rest. Although I do not need much sleep, I’ve not had any at all, and partnering that with my hunger, I’m spacy and grumpy.

The gaunt, scared faces of the children who were living in the wreckage of their shacks and the sounds of wailing of mothers who lost their children in the disaster have stuck with me. It was a harrowing experience, and as soon as I can convince the king to allow me to, I will return to the slums to help once more.

Unfortunately, there is more than just that filling my mind and souring my mood. Everything Eli told me has been burning in the back of my mind, and I’m desperate to ask Finnik if what I learned is true. I know I cannot do this, though, as I remember his reaction to Eli at the last ball.

Perhaps there is another way to convince him to tell me.

“Can you tell me about the land you’re from?” I blurt out, wiping the sweat from my forehead as I watch him drink from his canteen.

His entire body stiffens, and he turns his narrowed eyes on me. “Why would you want to know about that?”

The way he immediately clammed up and became defensive only makes me more curious. What about his homeland is making him react this way? It is not a secret that he is fae, something that would be impossible to hide, yet he’s acting as though I just asked him to run naked through the castle. If I want to get any answers out of him, then I am going to have to act casually about this.

“I’m curious.” Shrugging, I brush back several strands of my hair that escaped from my braid. “How did you end up living here with Havoc and the royals?”

“That is none of your business.

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