Page 10 of The Sorrow of Shadows

Knowing I’m about to start a war, I continue, “Sorry, no can do, Princess. I can’t call you general, because from what I saw at breakfast the general isn’t anywhere in this castle.”

Stomping her way over to me, she demands, “What is your problem, Aurelius?”

She stands six inches from me, but I can still easily stare down at her. Something I know she probably hates. “My problem,Breyla...” I start slowly, “is you.” She doesn’t seem surprised, but I catch her jaw tick.

“What specifically is it about me that offends you so?” she grits out.

“It’s your attitude that offends me so, Princess. You’re a liar and quite possibly the most insensitive female I have ever met.” I step into her space. Though she’s tall for a female, I still dwarf her frame.

Anger flares in her eyes. “Oh, that’s rich coming from you, asshole. You know nothing about me.” She steps closer to me and shoves her finger into my chest to make her point. “Don’t pretend otherwise.”

This female.

In a move so quick she doesn’t have time to react, I grab her wrist and flip her against the wall, pinning her hands above her head. I snarl as I lean close to her ear to whisper, “I know enough. You’ve been using your grief to justify your behavior since you’ve been at court. Although you pretend you don’t care about anything, the truth is you care deeply.” Her eyes burn into me, but I continue, “There are plenty of reasons for you to return to yoursoldiers and leave the capital. The report this morning wasn’t the first we’ve received of this nature since you arrived. You should be out there with them, but there’s something keeping you here. Despite your behavior, you are one of the best damn generals this kingdom has known, and you don’t get that by not caring.”

She scoffs in indignation, trying to jerk free of my grasp. I tighten my grip as I push closer, our noses almost touching. “I also know that the last three days, your blood has had no alcohol swimming through it, yet you let the entire castle believe otherwise. You’re here for a reason—one you don’t want people to know—so you’re trying to disguise your actions.” By the end, I’m almost yelling, pushed closer against her, and breathing heavily.

It's too late by the time I notice the shadows moving unnaturally around the edges of my vision. I feel something wrap around my ankles and knock me off my feet. I hit the library floor with a grunt as Breyla lands on top of me. She straddles me with a dagger pressed lightly against my neck. She may never admit it, but I struck a nerve with her. Her actions say everything her lips won’t, so I take the opportunity to provoke her further.

“If you wanted me on my back, Princess, all you had to do was ask.” I smirk at her.

Her shadows snuff out the lights in the room. I feel her lean in closer and press the blade harder into my throat. I swallow hard as she speaks softly in my ear, “You’re still easier to look at in the dark.”

I feel her nose run lightly down my jaw and my pulse jumps. But mine isn’t the only one. A low growl escapes me as I buck my hips, throwing her off balance, and then roll her onto her back. I have my knee lodged between her legs and use my hips to pin her down. I lean down to speak low. “Liar.” I can’t help myself when I place a soft kiss on the spot between her neck and shoulder. She shivers under me, and I know she’s affected. Shecan pretend she doesn’t like looking at me, but my Gift effortlessly reveals her deception. “Now tell me what you’re doing here,” I demand.

“I have frequently caught myself wondering the same thing about you,” she deflects. “I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours.” With that, she pulls her shadows back into herself, and light returns to the room.

There is a sharp knock at the door and a male’s voice on the other side. “Breyla, are you still in there? Why is the door locked?” It’s Elijah. I suddenly realize how the position we are in would look. I jump to my feet, straightening my tunic. This conversation is over, so I unlock the door with a twist of my wrist and fling the doors open.

“Lord Aurelius, I didn’t realize you were in here,” Elijah says with a suspicious look in his eye.

“The general and I were just discussing battle strategy,” I grunt as I brush past him—noticing he smells subtly of lilac and honey—as I exit the library.

I shoot up straight in bed, my heart beating erratically and gasping for breath. Long auburn curls and the scent of honeysuckle are all that linger in my mind from the dream. The images are blurry, and I can’t quite piece them together.What had awoken me?I look around the room, and that’s when I notice it. Rather, I noticehim. My brother, Raynor. He looks just like he had the time I’d seen him alive as he sent me to Prudia on official crown business—curls piled neatly atop his head with the sides shaved shorter, freckles spattering his face just like Breyla, the Rimorian crown resting on his brow. I’m doubtful that this is aghost at all, having never seen one before, but I’m eager to hear what he has to say.

“It’s about time you woke up,” he says impatiently.

I stare at the ghost, dumbfounded. It’s the middle of the night, and he’s criticizing my timeliness in waking up? “Pardon me for sleeping. I’ll do better next time. I’ve been here for weeks. It’s not as if you didn’t have ample opportunity to appear before now. Perhaps even at a time of day when I was already awake.”

Raynor’s ghost tsks at me. “Save your complaining for the living. I have something to say.”

“I’m listening.”

“I was murdered by someone in this castle,” he says bluntly. I stare at him, and he continues, “You don’t look surprised.”

“I’m not surprised, brother. I noticed things were...not right the moment I arrived. From my first conversation with Gen?—“

“Ah, yes. My wife, and now your fiancé. Tell me, how did that come about?” He seems genuinely invested in my answer here.

“She approached me about it. I only accepted her proposal to protect her. She apparently does not feel she can trust anyone on your council. Can you tell me why that is?”

“My queen’s instincts are sharp. I cannot speak for everyone on the council, but I would start with Lord Seamus. I believe him to be connected to my murder.” It’s interesting what information this ghost has—and doesn’t have.

“You believe? You don’t know for sure who murdered you?”

“Unfortunately, I did not see my death coming. I can’t say for sure, but I believe strongly that Lord Seamus had a hand in it. He stands to gain the most from removing my bloodline from power.” His uncertainty about his murderer unsettled me, but his reasoning on Lord Seamus had merit.

“I’ll look into it. Why come to me, though?” I figured he would go to Gen with this information.

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