“We did.” She nods proudly. “It took years, but we managed to get out. We tried to free all of us, but I know he hasn’t stopped. The king is a cruel bastard who delights in pain.”
It’s my turn to nod. “I know that all too well.”
“Girl, who are you?” she asks.
“My name’s Cora. I was the hunt,” I say smugly, my grin widening. “Only I didn’t die like he wanted.”
“No, I can see that.” She laughs, and the sound makes me sigh in happiness. “Well, Cora, any enemy of the king is a friend of ours.”
“Thank you. We just need somewhere to hide during the day. My mates won’t blend in up there.” I grin.
“No, they definitely won’t.” She eyes them and looks back at me. “I can offer you refuge. It isn’t much, but it’s what we have.”
I take her hand, almost compelled to as I squeeze it. “It is more than enough,” I assure her.
“Then welcome, Cora, survivor of the hunt,” she calls, and various greetings are called as more come over to us. “I’m afraid that is the last of our food, but we have beds and warmth.”
I nod as I look down at the food I was eating and pass it over to a child nearby, who looks to be starving. It’s then I truly look around.
The king did this. He created these people with his perverted nature. He corrupts everything he touches.
This is about more than us now, more than me. This is about everyone.
This is about the future of all the lands.
We have to help them. They are trapped here and starving.
They never asked to be made into this. All they have known is pain and rejection. They need to be safe, they need a home, and the rest of our world needs to know the truth.
Humans need to see behind the gilded mask to the true monster who sits on the throne.
“I think we can help each other,” I state.
The old woman watches me before giving me a blinding smile. “I think we can too. I’m Marne, and I’ve been waiting a long time for you, Cora.”
ChapterForty-Three
“We need food,” I murmur, sitting in the middle of my monsters. Glancing around at the starving halflings, I correct, “They need food.”
“We should stay here,” Grim argues. “None of us can blend in.”
I meet his eyes. “I can.”
“Cora,” he warns, his fingers tightening on the sword he’d been cleaning.
“I know it’s dangerous, but I could go up top, find some food, and be back down with no one the wiser.”
“And what if someone recognizes you again?” Krug asks, his eyes telling me I don’t need to be kissing any more men, even to stop them from recognizing me.
I sigh. “No one but the king would know me in the Gilded Lands, and even he probably wouldn’t recognize me now. I was scrawny and starving the last he saw me.”
Grim’s eyes trace over my body, acknowledging the muscle and weight I’ve put on since I was first thrown into the Dead Lands as the hunt. “I doubt the king will be walking the streets.”
“Exactly,” I agree. “The only time I’ve even come close to the Gilded Lands was when I was being prepared as the hunt, and even then, I was barely taken to the edge of it. I’ll be fine walking, and I’ll be back before you even miss me.”
“Impossible,” Bracken declares. “I miss you the moment you’re gone.”
Melting at his words, I stroke my hand along his jaw and meet Grim’s eyes. “I’ll be careful. I promise. Besides, I’m not as helpless as I was when you first found me.”
