Page 6 of Poisoned Kingdom (Secrets of Dagome #1)

I pondered my dire situation as I waited for my fever to decrease. ‘It can’t be far now; somewhere, there’s a village with an inn and a big, hot bath. Oh gods, there’ll be a warm bed and food . . . I’ll bet they even have fish stew and apple pie.’

Sheer tenacity and a focus on the simple pleasures of life kept me walking along the riverbank for hours after that. My daydreams felt so real, I could smell the food cooking—not fish, surprisingly, but a rabbit stew, like hunters make from the animals they snare.

I licked my lips and followed the delicious scent, uncaring if it was real or my wishful thinking. Whether it was a woodcutter’s hut or a hunting lodge, I was ready to beg, borrow, or steal for a moment of respite and hot food on a plate.

‘You could never be a hero, Sana. Three days in a forest and you’d sell your soul to Veles for a mouthful of food.’

My chuckle turned into a nasty curse when a twig smacked me in the face. The undergrowth was so dense here that it felt like the forest wanted to stop me from advancing. I grasped the low-hanging branch and pushed through, hugging my face to the uneven bark as I struggled.

Just a little farther. Gods, I should have spent more time outside , I thought, feeling my heart pound in my chest after such simple exercise.

Once I pushed through, there was nothing but the rush of blood in my ears.

When it subsided, laughter and masculine voices dragged my attention to the clearing ahead of me.

I hesitated, my steps faltering, but I didn’t know how to live in the forest and asking for help was my only chance of finding some food.

I licked my lips again, gathering my courage as I wiped the pine sap on my hands off on my dress.

I wished I could see through the undergrowth, but the tangled branches only revealed glimpses of a flickering fire. A root snapped under my foot, and I stilled, holding my breath before slowly continuing, careful not to make too much noise.

I approached what looked like a rough campsite, with an open fire and bedrolls becoming visible as I drew closer.

I checked the position of my hairpin, ensuring it was within easy reach.

Drawing a breath, I stepped into the clearing, only for the heat to assault me.

Harsh, unfiltered sunlight pierced my eyes, bringing with it an instant sting of tears.

I froze, squinting against the glare, waiting motionlessly until my vision adjusted to the unforgiving brightness.

As the blur began to fade, a shape took form.

‘Fuck,’ I breathed, moving back. My luck had been bad lately, but this was beyond ridiculous. I’d followed the scent of a hot meal and landed myself squarely in trouble, like a cat fleeing the rain only to leap straight into a flooded gutter.

‘They haven’t seen me,’ I muttered, looking around, my gaze briefly landing on the trees growing at the top of a small hill. Something was there, and I instinctively took another step back.

Out of all the danger I could have encountered during my escape, I had to stumble upon a hunting party. Three men sprawled near the fire, roasting rabbits, and I recognised one of them from the Dark Brotherhood.

‘It’s been two days. How long will he make us wait?’ asked a tall, bearded man, probing the meat with a dagger.

‘As long as it takes. You heard Jagon. He was furious she escaped. Our illustrious master paid a pretty penny for the guards to avert their eyes, but when he came for her, she’d already gone.

What a fucking mess. You should have seen him foaming from the mouth as he issued our orders.

So, sit on your arse and be happy you’re here and not searching the deepest recesses of a dwarven mine instead,’ answered another, and I swallowed hard as I tried to retreat.

‘She’s his little chit, isn’t she? I swear the bastard was smiling when he returned from the dungeon,’ the third rogue said before standing. ‘I just don’t get it. He could have any dark sister—why does he want this one?’

Because he’s obsessed with me, you moron, I thought.

I was almost out of sight. A few more steps, and I could turn and run for safety, but the cold edge of a blade was suddenly pressed against my neck.

‘Leaving the party so soon, sweetheart? I’m afraid I can’t allow that. Jagon will have my balls if I don’t bring you in.’

Before I could overthink, I shifted to the side, ramming my elbow into the man’s stomach. Then, when he gasped and dropped the knife, I shot forward.

‘Get her! Nightshade’s here!’ he grunted, raising the alarm.

Fear bolstered my strength, and I shrugged off my exhaustion, ignoring the sorry state of my boots as I ran as fast as my legs would carry me.

My chest burned, and twigs smacked my face, but no matter where I went, my enemies drew closer.

Maybe if I’d been rested, I might’ve stood a chance, but as I stumbled over another root, losing my footing, I felt hands grasping my arm and tackling me to the ground.

As we tumbled, I hammered my fist into a leering face, but neither the sickening crunch of his nose nor the blood gushing from it deterred him.

‘Oh, you like it rough? Fine, princess, Jagon can have you once I’ve taken my turn and you’ve paid for my broken nose.’ My captor spat blood in my eyes before capturing my hands and pinning them above my head.

‘Let me go, let me fucking go!’ I screamed, attempting to headbutt my assailant, but the other men rushed in, and before I knew it, they had me pinned to the ground, unable to do anything while their hands roamed over my body.

‘Look at this, what a pretty bird. Now I know why Jagon wants her. She’s got the face of an alkonost, 2 not to mention a good pair of tits to go with it,’ said one, grasping the collar of my dress and yanking hard to expose me.

‘Well, he only said to capture her alive. Jagon never said we couldn’t have a bit of fun, and I think we deserve a little something for waiting in the cold,’ answered his companion.

Cold understanding flooded my veins with rage. There was nothing I could do, not without my poisons, and not against four Brotherhood killers. But Jagon wanted me to live, and even these bastards wouldn’t cross the poison master. I stopped thrashing.

‘I won’t forget this,’ I said, deathly calm.

‘One day soon, I’m going to kill you and then dance on your rotting corpses.

Your flesh will burn, your bones will melt, your breath will freeze, and you’ll beg me to end your pitiful existence, but I’ll just savour your screams.’ I spat the words out like a curse.

The aether shifted around me, power I could barely touch now shocking me with its strength, filling my blood with venom.

Vicious green strands curled around my body, lashing like vipers.

My attackers stopped, momentarily glancing at one another in panic. They couldn’t see it, but the most primitive part of their soul sensed the danger.

‘You pathetic pieces of shit,’ I hissed. ‘You think you’ve won? I’ll carve your faces into my memory, and if you so much as touch me, know this—you’ll be fucking your own death.’

‘Shut up! Shut the fuck up!’ shouted the one whose hand rested on my throat. He grabbed a rock and hit my temple, once, twice . . . His hand squeezed harder, black spots dancing in front of my eyes. My vision blurred as I fought to breathe, writhing against his grip.

So, this is how it ends .

Regret dulled my senses, heavier than pain.

I’d never feared death—only a life left unfinished.

I still had so much to learn, so much to live for, and my power had finally responded.

Even if it was nothing like I’d expected, it was enough.

I was more than the Deadly Nightshade . .

. except now no one would ever know, and even those I loved would remember me only as a poisoner who had abandoned them.

Veles, God of the Underworld, if I’m to die here, let me return as a wraith. Let me take my vengeance.

Something splashed across my face, hot and sticky, the familiar taste filling my mouth with its metallic tang. A battle roiled around me as darkness pulled at the edges of my mind. The pain vanished, and so did the regret. My killers were killing each other. The dark god had listened to my plea.

Accept my soul, Veles, I prayed as a voice, deep and wrathful, chased me into the void.

‘You’ll take your turn in death.’

1. Svarog /pron S-va-roog/ — god of fire, patron of blacksmiths and metalworkers.

2. Alkonost — a legendary woman-headed bird that has a healing touch, an otherworldly beautiful face, and a mesmerizingly alluring voice capable of making anyone who hears her forget all their sorrows and worries.