When It Reigns (Cursed Reigns, #1)

CHAPTER THREE

AERYN'S POV

Later that night, I found myself in one of our deserted farm towns at the base of the mountain as thoughts of the Consul meeting consumed my mind.

"Careful, Princess!"

I ducked as a monstrous, hooded figure swiped its skeletal hand at my head. The robed arm whooshed above me, sending a few dark strands of hair across my face as I dropped to a crouch.

"You're the only one who actually calls me that out of respect," I grumbled at my assigned partner.

Serrated talons caught the fabric on the back of my cloak and shredded through the top layer of white mountain lion fur. I clenched my jaw, wishing I'd known we weren't going to be sent up the mountain for the challenge. I was already drenched in sweat from the heavy cloak designed for the harsh winter temperatures of the Wrexial Mountains, and the white fur was a beacon in the moonlight. One claw hooked itself in the tough layer of skin underneath the fur and my feet left the ground until my face was lifted to meet the haunting eyes of the demon shifter.

The gravelly voice of the demon made the hair along my arms stand on edge as it hissed, "My princess."

I recoiled, disturbed by the taunt. "See?"

Two violet irises outlined in red glowed in the deep eye sockets of the bone mask he wore. Goosebumps broke out across my arms as those uncanny eyes seemed to bore right into my soul. The bone mask's hooked nose and horns curling toward its fractured cheekbones added to the demon's horrifying appearance.

The mask ended just above his top lip, leaving his entire jaw exposed. Dark veins crawled up his neck and snaked beneath the mask, standing out against his opaque skin. If that wasn't terrifying enough to haunt my nightmares, the demon cocked his head to the side as he studied me, sporting a cynical grin in the shadows of his hood.

Yeah, this sight was undoubtedly going to plague my nightmares in the future – assuming I was able to escape with my life by the end of this.

Blinding white light flared behind my eyes and I snapped them shut as a sharp pain splintered in my skull. My entire body stiffened in the demon's grasp, and I pressed my gloved hands to my temples as I released a blood-curdling scream. Ice flooded my brain, and it felt like fingers were poking around inside my head searching for something deep in the recesses of my mind. The torment was too great, and I failed to throw up the walls to block the dark magic exploring my mind. Just when I thought I was going to surrender to the agony, the fingers retreated, and the light faded.

I peeled my eyelids open, throat burning from screeching, to find the shifter's eyes open wide and his mouth slightly ajar as he regarded me with surprise. A mild ache throbbed behind my forehead as I glared at him. Attempting to appear inconspicuous, I allowed my arms to fall to my sides and felt for the dragon scale buried in the deep pocket of my leather training uniform pants. Just as my fingertips grazed the smooth surface, the demon dropped me.

My heart jumped to my throat as I was dumped to the ground. I fell flat on my ass and bit my lip to keep from yelling out. Towering above my five-foot six stature, the half-human half-demon surpassed the seven-foot mark with ease. Hidden in the shadows casted by his hood, the demon's face was unreadable as he stared down at me. The full moon shining behind his head made it look like he was wearing a halo.

This demon was anything but innocent.

"Patience, Powerless One," he jeered, raspy voice caressing me with the obscure message.

Even though I despised the title, I hated the constant reminder of my lack of an Insignia even more, and muttered, "I think I preferred it when you called me 'princess'."