His voice grew cold. “You are the heir. It is your duty to continue the bloodline and ensure the survival of our people. Would you have the demons win by driving us extinct, and the human race enslaved forever?”

“I don’t give a shit about the human race!”

My father drew back, his face white. As soon as I said it, I knew it was wrong. It was too late to take it back, though. His eyes filled with sorrow. “I have failed then, in teaching you the most important lessons. If I do die on this raid, I would hope you will take what I’ve said to heart. You will be king, and your people will be your highest priority. Nothing else matters.”

He stalked out of the room, and that was the last time I ever saw him alive.

Chapter Three

Wren

I tried to keep track of the days at first, but it was impossible. I had no way to tell the passage of time, especially when I dozed in an effort to escape from the hunger and thirst. A guard brought me brackish water once a day, but I didn’t trust it. I didn’t trust anything after learning what Thad was, and watching Severn heal him. My own wounds were healing too slowly for a draken. I needed the blood of my mates. Surely Severn and the Overlord didn’t want me dead? I’d be no good to anyone dead.

“Wren.”

Now I was hearing voices. Maybe I should take a sip of the dirty water in front of me. One sip couldn’t hurt, right?

“Wren!”

Fine, fine. Maybe one sip would make the voices shut up for one second. I crawled over to the bowl, the black water making my empty stomach roll with nausea despite my hunger.

“Up here.”

I jerked, realizing the voice was real and that I recognized it. Thad stood on the other side of the iron bars; his hand curled tightly around the metal. He looked healthy, and that pissed me off the most. In his other hand he held a goblet and an apple. My mouth watered, but I closed it and gave a weak sneer. “Go away.”

His black eyes narrowed, and I looked away. His face softened. “Here . . . eat.”

The apple rolled under the bars, and I watched it with greedy eyes. Pushing away my pride, I seized it and tore off a large chunk of flesh with my teeth. I refused to look at Thad, but that only made him angry.

“Damnit Wren, I didn’t know I was half-demon! How was I supposed to? I was raised with humans my entire life! I never showed signs of any magicks, any special talents, just—”

He bent over, clutching his abdomen hard. The demons hadn’t been able to heal him of his strange fits, apparently. I thought about asking him about it, but I didn’t want him to think I cared, because I didn’t. Hadn’t Severn mentioned something about a change though? I flinched, wondering if his body was trying to change into his demon form. I shook my head and looked up at him.