Free Broken Forest: Book One of the Daath Chronicles by Eliza Tilton Page A

kissed my hand. I shivered. No man had ever looked at me with such desire—not even Derrick—and it frightened me.
    “Hello, Jeslyn.” His smooth voice rang with power.
    My hands trembled, and I dug them into my tattered dress.
    “Are you feeling well?”
    It angered me that he acted so frivolous. I wanted to scream and cry. Did he not realize I was a prisoner?
    “I know you’re frightened. I’m not going to harm you.” He peered at my arm. “That’s quite the cut. May I?”
    He didn’t wait for an answer and gently lifted my arm, examining the deep scratch running across it. I thought back to my blinded journey, and the trembling fear came flooding back.
    “Who did this to you?”
    “A man blacker than night. He was in charge of the men who stole me.”
    Lucino’s brows slanted down. “Did he do anything else to you?”
    I nodded, remembering the last time I saw Derrick, back at the wagon. A single tear slid down my cheek.
    “He hit me.”
    Lucino wiped my tear. More followed. “Jeslyn, please—be calm. You have nothing to fear from me.”
    His pupils dilated, and in their center swirled something like a hurricane. I leaned forward, not trusting my own eyes.
    “You are safe,” he said.
    Suddenly the fear subsided, the storm from his eyes gone. My stomach grumbled. It had been awhile since I’d last eaten.
    He stood, offering his arm. “Come with me. You can eat and bathe. This is no place for a beauty like you. There’s much we need to discuss.”
    I agreed, eager to leave this room, eager to bathe. Once I left this prison, I could think of a way to escape.
    Outside the enormous wooden structure in which I’d been housed a black carriage waited, led by two magnificent white horses. I spotted the captain standing next to it and huddled closer to Lucino, seemingly far saner than the dark beast who’d dragged me here.
    “Please, wait inside, my lady.” Lucino hoisted me into the carriage, and I climbed in. He closed the door, and I peered through the window. He gestured the captain away.
    “Kneel!” Lucino ordered.
    The captain knelt and bowed his head. Lucino took out his sword and slashed it across the captain’s face. It happened so quickly, I almost missed it.
    “That is so you remember how to properly treat a lady.” Lucino kicked him in the chin, sending him backward.
    My heart hammered as I watched Lucino defend my honor, but why would he be so angry with his own man? Did he not order him to take me?
    Lucino motioned for the two nearest soldiers and whispered to them. Their expressions turned to shock.
    “Yes, Master,” they said, picking up their comrade while Lucino walked back to me.
    Upon entering the carriage, Lucino snapped his fingers. The driver whipped the reins, and the horses trotted up the winding road.
    I peered at the passing scenery with wide eyes. “Where are we?” I asked.
    “Daath.”
    All my life I’ve dreamed of it being real. Mother had told me the old stories. Daath is the birthplace of our world, a magical paradise. No one else believed Mother’s old tales, not even Calli and especially not Avikar, but I did.
    Lush vegetation, greener than a shining emerald, surrounded us. Exotic birds chirped from the brush. Prancing unafraid alongside the carriage was a creature that resembled a deer but smaller and snow white. Delicate flowers larger than a melon weaved with the grass. In the trees lurked black crescent-browed monkey creatures. I pressed against the glass. My breath fogged my view, and I rubbed it away.
    I could feel Lucino’s eyes observing me in silence. I shifted in the seat.
    “I’m sorry if I stare,” he said. “I have never seen anyone quite as exquisite as you. You are extremely beautiful.”
    “Th … thank you.”
    “You must have some questions you’d like to ask?”
    I slid back in the seat and folded my hands in my lap. “Why am I here?”
    He sighed and glanced out the window. “It was not supposed to be like this, but my Council is