Blood Curse (Branded Trilogy Book 2) by Kat Flannery Page A

chaos.”
    His black eyes searched her face for any hint of deceit she may try to hide.
    “Stand so that I may see you.”
    She pulled the shawl tight around her shoulders and did as he asked.
    “How are your burns?”
    “They…they are well,” she lied.
    He nodded.
    “Truth. It is a word I value above all else. And, it is what I’d like from you.”
    She averted her eyes and nodded. He did not know of the burns, and she’d keep the act to herself at all cost.
    Kade took her chin within his fingers and lifted it so he could look at her.
    “I will not put my life in danger for a liar.”
    “I am not a deceiver.”
    “Yes, well that is to be decided now isn’t it? You will answer my questions with the truth. If I feel you’re misleading me in any way I will not help you.”
    She nodded this time, keeping her eyes on his.
    “Tsura is your daughter.”
    How did he know? Had someone told him?
    “Answer me.”
    With no other choice but to tell him the truth, or part of it, she whispered, “Yes, she is.”
    “Why do you dress her as a boy?”
    “Because bad people have hunted our children, killing many of them. They search for a little girl. We decided to keep our children safe and dressed them as boys.”
    “Why are they hunting gypsy girls?”
    “Some say because of a curse, but we do not know.”
    “Why would Milosh take his niece?”
    “I do not know.”
    “I say you do.”
    “I do not.”
    “I wish you well on your journey,” he said and walked away.
    “Wait.”
    He stopped.
    “Milosh’s daughter was killed not long ago. He must be angry that my child lived when his did not.”
    She watched as his brows rose, and she prayed he believed her. She gave him half of the truth. To give it all could mean destruction far worse than she was ready to face. The Monroes hunted Tsura, and right now they were the least of her worries. What Milosh was going to do with her daughter was more important.
    “So he wants revenge?”
    She nodded.
    “What will he do with the child?”
    “I do not know.”
    He reached behind him and handed her a doll. She recognized it as the one she’d made for Tsura months ago. The girl always slept with it.
    She ripped it from his hands and clutched it to her chest.
    “Where did you find this?”
    “Over by one of the dilapidated wagons.”
    “Was it close to the forest?”
    “Yes. Why?”
    “Tsura slept with this doll. She wasn’t allowed to take it from the vardo.”
    “She had it last night.”
    “Yes, and where you found the doll is the direction I must go to find her.”
    He regarded her for a long while, and she twisted the doll within her hands. The only man who’d ever shown her any attention was Stefan, and she kept a safe distance from him. She was about to ask him why he was so forthcoming when he turned and walked away.
    “Where are you going?”
    “To eat and rest. We will leave at dusk.”
    She let out a loud sigh, relieved she wouldn’t be going alone and hopeful she’d find her daughter. She watched him, wide shouldered and tall. He reeked of arrogance—of privilege. He challenged everyone around him. She scanned the scorched and smoldering pile that used to be her home and squeezed Tsura’s doll to her chest.
    Uncertainty of where her child was tore at her soul. How was she going to stay sane when her insides were a bloody mangled mess of emotions? One minute she wanted to weep, the next lash out at anyone who came near, and she struggled to contain every bit of it. She needed to stay strong—clearheaded. To behave like a crazy person wouldn’t help find Tsura.
    Oh, how she missed her daughter. She wanted to hold her and kiss her. To tell her that everything would be okay. She promised to chase the bad men away and keep her safe. She tipped her chin. She’d failed. Her vision blurred, and she dropped to her knees. She clutched the doll to her cheek and inhaled. I will find you. I promise.

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    Silas stood over the grave of his newborn