Page 19 of A Curse of Breath and Blood

“Tracks! Here!” the man yelled to the others. “I found?—”

My chains were around his neck before he could finish his sentence.

He clawed at his neck, tossing me back and forth, but I held steady.

He gasped for air, sinking into the snow.

Brutus’s footsteps grew louder with each passing second.

C’mon.The iron burned into my skin. Tears welled in my eyes. The soldier flailed, trying to save his own life, but slowly, his windpipe collapsed. He slunk into a heap on the ground.

Pausing for a moment, I contemplated the intimacy of the kill. I had held his life in my hands and snapped his neck. Maybe I was the monster after all.

I searched his body for a key.

Please, please, please.

Precious seconds ticked by.

I padded the soldier’s armor.

No key.

Fuck.

Brutus stood at the end of the row. “Now, little bird, don’t make this difficult.”

His head swiveled as he searched for me.

My chest loosened a bit.

He couldn’t see me. He followed my footprints here.

I grabbed the sword from the soldier’s sheath and ducked between the crates again.

“Oh, little bird. Come out and play.”

The flickering light grew brighter with each step he took.

Sucking in a breath, I crouched low.Please let this work, please let this work.

Brutus stopped at the body of the soldier, clicking his tongue in disgust. “Pathetic.”

I gathered every ounce of courage I could muster,biting my lip so hard it bled.

I struck hard and fast, stabbing my sword through his thigh.

Brutus let out a cry of pain. Slipping on the ice, he tumbled to the ground. Blood pooled around him.

I ran.

6CAIDEN

Before

“Do you love my daughter, Caiden?”Queen Isadora gazed out the window. Her dark hair fell in soft waves over her narrow shoulders.

“Yes,” Caiden answered.

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