Bride of Alvar (Redemption Saga, Book 1)

Chapter 9

"It hasn't killed for a very long time, but we are waiting for it to begin again. It flies over the city; its eyes watching us. It used to belong to the evil tyrant, Saul. He used its untouchable power to keep us enslaved. Any rebellion was met with you and your family burned inside your home by its scorching blaze." Leeza closes her eyes, as if remembering something terrible. "Few survived his wrath, and those who did regretted living. Eventually Saul had enough men backing him at the threat of the Cursed that he had Axus in the palm of his hand."

This was too much. A Cursed, like Alvar, had been Saul's pet? How had Alvar gotten rid of Saul? Maybe only Cursed could kill Cursed.

"Are you sure it's the same Cursed that Saul controlled?" I know I need to ask this. Considering...

"Most think so, but who can be sure? No one wants to get close enough to find out if it's wearing Saul's Fe collar. Some say it hasn't killed anyone since Saul left because it desires it's master's return first and some say this is a new one. If the man responsible for possessing the Curse is found out, he'll be killed in his human form, when they are most vulnerable. But even that takes drastic measures to successfully finish."

I want to throw up, but also lean more toward the idea that Alvar destroyed the previous Cursed over him being the one owned by Saul.

The gong sounds again. Leeza breathes a sigh of relief. "It's gone."

"Good," I mutter, but I highly doubt" it" is really gone.

We crawl out of the safe room and Leeza helps me into the spider silk gown. It's too wonderful feeling to question and I rationalize that silk on Earth is made by tiny little caterpillars so, why not spider silk?

Just as I'm finished dressing and Leeza has styled my hair in an ornate up-do, my mother enters the room.

"Wasn't the Cursed sighting frightening?" Mom asks.

"Yes," I murmur. I can't believe it still. Maybe I'd only imagined Alvar's red eyes. Maybe he had some other kind of otherworldly condition and I was jumping to conclusions.

"Emily is here," Mom snorts and crosses her arms. "I can't believe we're stuck with her here. After what she made you think about me."

"Mom," I say. "Please, try to understand. We can't send her back." I know I've done wrong by my mother, but I don't know where to start in order to gain a good relationship back.

Leeza bows to me. "I will fetch your friend if you wish?"

"Yes, please, I imagine she is quite frightened and in need of a familiar face," I say. Wow, I'm starting to talk like them.

"Yes, majesty," Leeza says with a smile and leaves Mom and I alone.

"So—" Mom gives me a mischievous look.

Uh-oh, she's going to ask about the wedding night.

"So what?" I ask, trying to sound calm.

"How did last night go?" Mom asks.

"Mom, it's personal," I groan and roll my eyes at her.

"I know, I know," Mom shakes her head. "But I want to make sure he's taking good care of you."

"He's taking care of me fine," I snap. "And he was perfectly gentlemanly." Oh, but he's quite possibly some kind of monster too! If I'm right he is what his own people live in terror of.

The door opens and Leeza ushers in Emily.

"Oh my—Lucy!" Emily cries upon seeing me. "I was almost afraid they were lying to me when they said you were here." She rushes to me and give me a long hug.