Starkeeper of the Fractured Crown

Page 132



I ran back to the cottage, keeping to the shadows until I hit the Forest of Malice where I broke into a full sprint.

I was able to cover the distance in 15 minutes without shuffling Mark too much, but honestly, my mind was on Kyra and whether or not she was alive.

I jogged through the door, breathing without a hitch, and saw her lying on the table, blood soaking her clothes, dried on her skin, around her mouth, in her hair, burn marks and bruises everywhere. “She’s alive,” I said, glancing towards the sleeping Mark in my arms.

Trick nodded, leaning back against the counter, watching her carefully as his shadows swirled around her. All of them.

There was Asilos Root and Restri saliva smeared across every inch of visible skin, but I knew just by the looks of her mangled, beaten, and broken body that it would take some time for her to heal, for her to feel normal again, even with the magical remedies.

Only a hint of relief touched me. At least we had gotten them both.

“Three broken ribs, broken right hip, broken wrist, 16 fractures, deep bruises, some burns. She might not have seen it, but there was Forbidden Magic at work when I arrived too.”

He said it more to himself than to me, I realized. I wasn’t even sure if he truly realized I was there. Not until Trick looked up and saw Mark in my arms. “DidMark see you? Did anyone?”

I adjusted him in my arms as I made my way to his bedroom. “He was hiding in a nearby alley behind some trashcans. He never saw me coming.”

I set him carefully in his bed, the boy far too small for being almost 11.

I closed the door and found Trick beside the table now, gazing down at Kyra with this unreadable expression. He didn’t look like some monster obsessed with some girl. He looked like a lover gazing upon his soulmate.

But he had always been good at switching his masks.

“What do you want to do, Trick?”

He was quiet for a long time before he finally straightened, sliding his hands into his pockets. “I suppose you want answers.”

I felt the anger beat through me, not all of it directed towards him, but a good portion of it was. “She called for you last night to ask you some questions. Why didn’t you answer?”

“I couldn’t.”

It was probably the best answer I would get, but I couldn’t let it go. “Mark is Raphael’s son. You areobsessedwith her, stalking her, taunting her, and she finally decides to reach out, and you ignore her? This wouldn’t have happened had you not disappeared for a week. Where were you, Trick?”

His eyes filled with ice and death. “I’ll be back. Keep an eye on her.”

My lip curled as he Jumped away, leaving all but one of his shadows to watch over Kyra.

“Fucking prick,” I muttered, walking up to her. I looked her over, memorizing what thatwomanhad done to her. Her own mother? Why hadn’t she left? Why keep Mark in that environment? Why not tell someone? Anyone.

“I should have made you stay,” I told her, finding her bruised and swollen face. “I had a dream while you were away. I should have told you last night. I know who you are, Kyra and I’m on your side, forevermore.”

~~~

Trick

I waited in the shadows of the far corner of the room as Norella began to wake up.

It had taken no time to heal the wounds my magic had given her. Maybe I should have been sleeping, resting after a week of uncontrollable rampage, but this was important.

This woman had hurt my girl.

Over and over and over again.

Had tried torape herwith a fucking pan.

I couldn’t let anyone get away with that, let alone her own mother.

Norella Skye jerked, pulling at the chains around her wrists, pinning her to the concrete chair built in the center of the room.


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