Chapter 182

**LUCINDA POV**

The wind howls like a wolf at the moon, and it whips my hair around my face as i ride the mare to her full potential. She's fast. And i like fast.

Dieter and the others are about a half a day's ride behind me, it is just me and a few of my most trusted soldiers, ones that i know will keep me safe should trouble arise. And it more than likely will. We are not in the centre of the kingdom anymore, and the safety of the castle is nowhere is sight.

But that is how i like it.

I never liked how the main city felt like a cage, it was built to keep people out, but it also kept people in. My sons have never left. They like their comforts, and i cannot blame them for that.

But whilst my sons are Griffin’s, and they are trained to fight by some of the best warriors we have, they are naive to the world. They have no idea how things work outside of the capital, they don’t know how people live, and i do not even think they want to. They seem to like their ignorance.

My daughter Cay on the other hand, she likes to know all there is to know about everything, and she is a fast learner. She's smart. She is probably much better than my sons in that regard. But it isn’t a competition, it never has been, i love all my children.

I slow down the mare, the other’s quickly catching up to me, and i climb down, searching the flattened area of grass.

They were camped here, and not too long ago either, i am less than half a day late, and that means that my daughter is close enough to touch. I just need to figure out where she has gone, and then i can get her back, hopefully.

It all depends on the general, and what he has done to her whilst she has been his prisoner.

Though, i swear to the great dragon mother in the sky that if he has harmed one hair on her head then i will break his spine.

I may have become tamer over the years, but i am still the same Lucinda i was when i was younger, and i will destroy him. Even if he takes me down with him. My daughter is precious to me, more precious than my own life, and i will do anything and everything i can to save her.

Even if i have to give uo my own life to do it.

**CAY POV**

I hate the wind, it is so cold, and I'm so cold, my skin feels like ice. Some days it is harder to stay warmer than other’s especially when i am not near an open fire. Mihen has moved camp today, he says that he never stays in one place for too long, and i have been on the horse with him since the crack of dawn. I am tired and i am hungry.

But of course i can’t complain, he wouldn’t like that. And i do not want a repeat of what happened the other night. He broke my body, and he barely even broke a sweat.

“What’s wrong with you?” Mihen asks, leaning forward so his breath is fanning against my cheek.

“I’m tired.” I whisper, wishing i was anywhere but on the horse with him.

I wish i was far, far away from all of the fighting, but most importantly, i wish i was free again, because now i have had a taste of what being free feels like. I want more.

I just want to live my own way, without the constant interference of others.

But I don’t think I’ll ever get that, not now I’ve been captured by Mihen. He won’t allow it. He won’t give me freedom.

“We’ll stop soon.” He whispers in my ear, causing me to shiver, “and maybe when we do, I’ll take my fill of your body again.”

My insides turn to dust at his words.

I hate this, why aren’t I strong enough to fight him?

Why must men have such a power over women?

“Please don’t.” I whisper back, tears in my eyes, “Just give me a day to rest, I beg you.”

He chuckled softly against the skin of my neck, and I want to puke, “I don’t think I can do that, princess.” He says coldly.

Of course he won’t give me a rest, he’s using me to get to my parents, he wants me broken and begging.

He wants me to crumble under him, but I won’t, I will keep my fire, even if it is the last thing I ever do.

I just have to bide my time until I can get away, there has to be a way to make it home. There just has to. I can’t remain here with him.

I know his words ring true, I know he will kill me eventually, I just have to escape before that happens.

Mihen turns to the soldier who walks beside us, “Tell Jren we stop in the next clearing, we have gone far enough for one day.” He tells the man, and not nicely either, it was an order.

Does he order all the people around him to bow at his feet?

Why must he kill everyone in a village before he stops and leaves?

He’s destroying everything my mother and father built together, and he doesn’t even care that innocent people are dying.

It is like he finds it all so much fun.

I couldn’t find fun in death, it’s all so horrible.

I know I would have killed to keep the villagers safe, but that is because they couldn’t protect themselves. They were powerless against an army, and Mihen knew it. His men barely broke a sweat as they murdered them. And it isn’t the first village they have done it to. It is one of many.

How many people has he killed? When will he stop?