Page 64 of Heart of Dawn
Wendy worked as fast as she could, filling up as many viable cells as possible.
Now and again, even as the pain in my belly pinned me to the floor, I would lift my head to see what King Damien was doing.
Nothing much, just watching the queen bee and smirking at me whenever he caught me looking. Very much the cat who found the key to a storage facility filled with cream.
Would I really die here, my purpose in the bigger picture a spec of scarlet in the corner? Just because I’d survived this long, it didn’t mean I got to be at the grand finale.
Stars. Pessimism was never fun. But I didn’t trust the king. He wouldn’t heal me. He would leave me here to die after taking the honey, never giving me a second thought.
What about Dawn? It still watched on, keeping its creepy lips sealed, absorbing the moment. Probably preparing an inferno or something to wipe out the honey.
Why hadn’t the king or his guards crushed the head?
“Your Majesty,” Damien said. “How much longer is this going to take? I really don’t mean to rush you, but time is of the essence, as I’m sure you are aware.”
Wendy answered with an irritable buzz, offering him no answers.
I loved the sassiness of that sound. It reminded me of her equally sassy beeps.
Good one, Wendy. I’m so proud.
The king sighed. “Rude. Well, I suppose we can talk now.”
I lifted my head to see he’d addressed Dawn, whose bright-pink eyes sparkled when they rolled in the direction of the king.
“Silly king,” Dawn said. “Silly king wants to talk to me?”
“I do, yes.”
Damien confused me. One moment he wanted to leave, all meek and weak, leaning on his guards, completely defeated. But now he wanted to chat with the severed head?
Made no sense to me.
“What is it that you want?” the king asked Dawn.
“I am the greatest power. I am beyond your tiny mind. Do not ask me silly questions, silly king. You will see. I will spread everywhere, greater than before.”
I kept my head up, unable to stop my spectating.
“Fine. I understand that. However, what does that mean? What are you? A god? Something else? A bit of everything?”
Even in this condition, my anger bubbled like paint under a blowtorch.
You helped make it!
Dawn made a clicking sound before answering. “You cannot comprehend me.”
I licked my lips, my throat dry. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get these next words out, yet I tried anyway.
“If…” I cleared my throat, pushing the agony buttons in other parts of my body. “If you had a hand in this, then surely you already know what Dawn is.”
King Damien glanced at me. “I am no grunt, Orion. I contributed money, blood, and supplies, not my personal labor.” He chuckled, his guards echoing him. “Stay out of the conversation. You are not permitted to join in.”
My goodness, the man deserved every type of pounding—and I don’t mean the good kind.
I lowered my head again, my hair soaked from sweat, the pain vicious.
Unfortunately, there were no painkillers lying about, and no signs of me passing out to relieve this agony. The best I could do was stay as still as possible and send my prayers to the stars for another miracle. Because even though my survival wasn’t written in stone, I would fight for my life. No matter the helplessness acting like iron chains, I would always resist the end.
