Page 109 of Unkindness of Crimson Ravens

“Why did you save me from the Wurdulacs that night if you were just going to bring me to him anyway?” I asked him quietly.

He stared at me, as though seeing me for the first time, his face wrinkled in confliction. Perhaps he heard the sanity in my words, perhaps part of him wished to put this nonsense to an end. Part of me—deep down, behind all the anger and terror I felt toward the man before me—part of me felt sorry for him.

Nothing could justify the choice he had made, but who was I to talk about what was right. I understood. I understood the need to do what was asked of you, what went against all of your beliefs and wishes. The need to feel loved and needed by someone—anyone—even someone as evil as his father no matter the price. I understood.

Our gazes collided when Caleb finally broke the silence, “Our father will be here tomorrow at midnight. If you want to stay alive, do as he says.” With that Caleb left the dungeon.

Sleep did not come, did not take me away from the horrors of this place. Francis did not come either.

“Let me out!” I roared into nothingness for hours after all of my efforts at breaking the bars had failed. “Let me out, you bastard!” I kicked the metal. “I will kill you with my bare hands! Do you hear me? I will fucking kill you!”

“I hear you, daughter.” A low chuckle finally replied to my threats.

I traced the source of the voice and my eyes landed on Brian. I had gone mad.

“Daughter,” an ugly smile spread across his face. “You have grown since the last time I saw you. Of course I do not expect you to call me Father, you may refer to me as Kane.”

I glared at the man who stood a few feet away from me. His freshly trimmed beard could not hide his scarred face, shoulder length hair was tight in a low bun.

I blinked several times before realizing it was not Brian standing before me, though the similarities made me sick to my stomach.

“Sorry for such formalities,” Kane gestured around the cage I was in. “You have my word that you will be free soon. We just have one last matter to attend to.”

“Where are my siblings?” I spat out.

“The King’s offspring are not your concern, daughter.” He crooked his head, studying me.

“I am not your daughter,” I seethed.

“You got your mother’s tongue, but my hair,” the man hummed. “Raven,” he stretched out his hands towards my strands.

“Do not fucking touch me,” I bit out, taking a step back.

“Raven is what I wished to name you, daughter, but your mother insisted it was not a Royal name.” His lips curled. “Interesting creatures they are, don’t you think? So intelligent, so loyal, yet most dislike them for their cleverness.”

My heart banged into my rib cage, my teeth ached for this man’s neck. “Let me out!” My voice carried through the dungeon.

“Soon,” the man nodded. “We must take care of an inconvenience first.”

“What do you want from me?”

Laughter broke through the walls when Kane looked at me. “It’s been brought to my attention you aren’t what I expected you to be.”

“What do you want from me!” I took a step forward.

“I see you inherited your patience from your mother as well. No doubt you would make a great Queen,” Kane smiled. “A little test, if you will. Should you pass, I will personally ensure your safety, but you must first prove your worth to me, daughter.” He narrowed his eyes on me. “Bring her in,” Kane ordered the guards, taking a step back from the bars.

A golden haired woman was dragged into the dungeon and my heart stopped. I took a step back, wishing an unknown force would end me right here, right now.

Oh, how I wished Caleb had indeed poisoned my water, or perhaps the fire in my throat would have finally come into reality, taking my body with it, burning my flesh until nothing but ash was left of me.

How I wished a silver arrow was shot through my heart, stopping it forever.

How I wished I could take my own life to spare hers.