Starkeeper of the Fractured Crown

I nodded, still in disbelief myself. “Yup, and his name is Letak. He’s only a couple of years older than you in demon-age.”

“Letak,” he said, his smile so wide, it hurt my own cheeks. “I love that. It means Flyer, right?”

I couldn’t help but laugh, imagining Cole’s reaction when I told him that my baby brother knew the translation when a 1,000-year-old General didn’t. “Exactly right.”

“Will I get to fly on him one day?”

Worry instantly filled me, but I nodded anyway, despite the fact that I barely knew the creature. “Of course, but the first flight needs to be with me. Promise?”

He wiggled excitedly in bed. “Promise! I promise!”

I beamed, loving how adorable he was. “He’s going to be as excited as you when—”

The blanket flew back, and a sharp pain ripped through my skull as I was dragged from the bed and hit the ground, disoriented.

My hair was released, Mark gasping as I rolledonto my back, finding Mom standing above me with a cast iron skillet in her hand.

Anger filled me. She had never hurt me in front of Mark. It was an unspoken rule in this house, and I would never forgive her for breaking it.

As I pushed myself to a slow stand, I glared at her, putting every ounce of hatred I had into it. “You don’t care if he sees now?” I asked, putting myself between her and the bed. “Careless.”

“You’ve ruined him,” she spat, her eyes wild, hair coming out of her usually pristine bun. “With all of yourbullshitstories. You’ve probably convinced him not to go to the castle haven’t you?”

“I’m not going,” Mark said, his voice trembling.

I held out my hand, looking back at him, seeing the anger in his own eyes, the tears filling them. “Quiet.”

“Why is she doing that? You’re her daughter.”

My chest tightened in sorrow. “It’s okay,” I whispered. “I’m okay.” I turned back to Mom, letting the anger be my shield as I straightened. “He’s not going.” Why was I more afraid of standing up to her than I was Trick Michael? That didn’t make sense. Nothing about it made sense.

She laughed. “You think you can stop the High King? You’re just a worthless little thief. What is a thief to a King?”

Fear spread across my bones, followed by a chill I recognized. That shadow within me that belonged to Trick. Maybe he was gone, but I still had a shred of that devil living inside of me and I could use that.

I had to use that.

“What is a King to a God?” I countered, folding my hands into fists.

She scoffed, shaking her head. “The gods are dead.”

“Or maybe they’re hiding out of shame from creating people like you,” I bit. “Mark is coming with me. I can protect him. I’ll keep him safe.” As safe as I could keep him.

“You have nowhere to take him.”

I took a step back, my legs hitting the bed. “Anywhere is better than here.”

And she must have seen the truth in my eyes because she swung that pan with everything she was.

I turned away from it, covering my head, only to feel it slam into my shoulder. It took every ounce of strength I had not to cry out, but I had made a promise to myself a long time ago. I wouldnevercry out. I would never let her hear me scream. I would never let Mark hear me that weak. I had trained myself to be silent, even in my agony.

“He’smyson!” she screamed.

I looked over to Mark, finding him cowering on the bed, my arm numb, my fingers prickling. “Run,” I whispered, eyes flicking to the window. “Run and hide, I will find you, I promise.”

But he shook his head, his fear blanketing me. “I can’t leave you,” he whispered. “Be brave in the face of all monsters, not just some of them.”

Gods above, I loved him so much. “This isn’t goodbye, okay? This isn’t goodbye. You have to run, Mark.Run.”