I stumbled through the fire. Covering my face with my cloak as I looked for the clearing that Lady Bluebird had mentioned. She had been telling the truth about the fire. Which means she must be telling the truth about where she had left Raven. However, no matter where I looked.

All I could see was the fire surrounding me. Realizing I would get nowhere stumbling through this fire. I turned back to go the way I had come. However, flames must have consumed the path I had taken because I could no longer find it. My gaze instantly went to the trees because they were the only way I could find my way back.

Most were too consumed by fire for me to scale them. However, some of them had places where I could maneuver around the fire. I doubt I will be able to go around everything. Still, I really only had three options. I tied my cloak securely around my face and ran to one of the trees I could still scale. 

Heat radiated from it. The flames were probably about to consume it completely. Still, I had to try. I ignored the heat burning into my hands as I scaled the tree. Trying to get as high as I could go to see my way back.

No matter how high I climbed, though. The only thing I could see was the flames consuming the forest. Fire was crawling up the tree towards me. So that I couldn’t go back down. I was now stuck at the top of this tree.

Surrounded by flames and smoke. 

My cloak can only protect me so much. Which is why I was finding it hard to breathe. It looks like my character might die here. Dying in a book I’m in is not new. It doesn’t really kill me.

Just my character. So if I die, I’ll just have to wait until the next story starts. Still, I doubt burning alive will be a pleasant feeling. My body grew weaker because of the smoke. I could barely hold on. 

My eyes started darkening at the edges as I slumped against the tree. Gasping for breath. Right as my vision went dark. I felt myself slip from the tree. Falling towards the flames down below. 

******

He held me in place as he picked up a branding iron. Holding it over the same candle flame he had used to heat the needle. Staring into my eyes the whole time. I tried to jerk away from him. But he was too strong.

My whole body shook at the thought of what he was going to do. It had never crossed my mind. Even knowing what book I was in. That I would have to do this. When he felt satisfied with how hot the branding iron was.

He jerked my leg, revealing my inner thigh to his gaze. I jerked, fighting with every ounce of strength I had. It was of no use. He held me tightly and firmly placed the branding iron on my inner thigh. Excruciating pain ripped through me.

I screamed into the gag, tears of pain streaming down my face. As he pressed it into my thigh. He leaned forward and whispered in my ear.

“You wanted dark romance, little author. I’m just giving you dark romance. I hope you don’t regret it.”

******

As I burned her with the iron, regret instantly filled me. She would feel it as if it were happening to her own body. I pushed those feelings away. All she had to do was give back the quill, and she could have avoided all of this. When I finally pulled the iron from her skin. Her inner thigh bore the burned crest of this kingdom.

The character I was playing would have been delighted about this. So, I bared my teeth at her in the form of a grin. 

“It’s such a pretty sight seeing you branded as a toy should be. We’ll have to wait until to prince comes before piercing you, since I’ve already branded you.” 

She glared at me. Cursing me through her gag as tears still dripped down her face from the pain of the brand on her thigh. For a second, seeing her gagged, dangling, and branded with tears streaming down her face. I couldn’t help but think she looked so good like that. I mentally shook my head instantly.

Wondering where those thoughts had come from. I wasn’t doing this because I liked it. I was doing it because this is what my character would do. Wait, this is what my character would do. That is why I felt that it was a reaction from my character. 

Relief filled me when I realized that, and I focused back on her. Raven, as her character is named. Was still glaring at me. 

I brought the knife back out, skimming it along her skin. “Mmm, you seem to still have some fight in you. I wonder what else I can do to break you?”

She did her best to jerk away from me, and I reached to yank her back to me when a knock on the door interrupted us. 

“Commander, we’ve received word that part of Ravenhood’s criminal team infiltrated the train the prince is arriving home on. We believe they are trying to steal the treasure the prince has brought home for his father.”

“I’ll be out in a second,” I responded, my eyes never leaving Raven. 

I leaned closer to her. “It seems you will be reunited with your people soon enough. I hope you don’t mind me slicing their throat in front of you.” 

I left her dangling there like that and slipped out the door. Only pausing for a second to speak to the guards guarding the door. 

“If anyone besides me and the price touches her heads will roll, and yours will be the first.”

Then I walked off to play the role of the cruel, bloodthirsty commander.