Page 171 of Marked By His Hunger
The loudest pierced me.
Why her?
Why would she, of all creatures, deserve the attention of a Monster?
If only she knew how unworthy I was.
“I can answer that question, Unnasta, if you let me.”
“I have another one I’d like answered first. Are you going to break me, Raven?”
“I don’t want to.”
“Then why are you doing this to us?”
“You know the answer already, Serena.”
Acceptance flickered through her.
“But I don’t know, Raven. I don’t know what this is or what this means. I need answers.”
“Where to begin,” I murmured.
It was early in our courtship.
But I was in this for the long haul.
Whatever happened now was of little consequence.
I was possessed.
And I would give my last breath for Serena Notte.
“Why don’t you tell me who you are? I want the real story, not the things people here whisper about you,” she said.
“I know the whispers. And they are not wrong, Serena. I am a Monster. The Draugr—or rather, I was just the Draugr. Now, I am more.”
“But your name is Raven.”
“Yes. Raven Draugsson. Heir to my Clan in the North. A leader in waiting. And I bear the mantle. I am Draugr.”
“I hate that name,” she said softly. “You are not that to me. You are Raven.”
Gods! What she does to me without even knowing.
“And I cannot tell you what that means to me to hear you say that, Unnasta. But you are wrong,” I forced out. “I am the Draugr. As my father was before me.”
Next, I told her about the origins of my curse.
Of the avalanche.
Of a scared people being trapped beneath ice and snow.
Of starvation.
Of cannibalism.
Of the vow carved into our lineage.
