Page 103 of The Sorrow of Shadows

“And that’s where it gets ominous. Someoneknew,without a shadow of a doubt, that it would be Aurelius and I to find him. We could both touch him, but it burned us to break the barrier holding him there. It was like the magic was keyed into us specifically.”

“Hurt like a bitch, too,” Aurelius adds, and I nod in agreement, remembering the burning sensation lighting up my nerve endings.

“As soon as we broke the barrier a note appeared pinned to Julian’s chest, then we were attacked.” I finish the story, telling them every detail of the attack and the strange males behind it. I spare nothing, hoping someone picks up on something I may have missed.

“The Crimson Prince and Queen of Shadows will fall?” Elijah repeats the ominous note’s wording back to me. “I can’t be the only one thinking it, right?”

“That it sounds an awful lot like Aurelius and Breyla,” Ophelia pipes in.

“The thought had crossed my mind,” I admit. “But I’m not Queen, and Aurelius never had, nor ever would have the title of Prince. Even when he marries my mother, he’d assume the title of King. It doesn’t quite add up.”

“You’re leaving out the best part, Princess,” Aurelius says with a pointed look.

“I wouldn’t call it ‘the best’,” I mock.

“The strange warriors’ parting words, ‘The prince sends his regards’.”

“Well, that’s not ominous at all,” Elijah mumbles.

“It’s Ayden,” Jade says bluntly.

“That’s the first place my mind went as well,” I agree. “We were close to his border, and we know Ayden has held a grudge for years since King Raynor killed his father in battle, so he has a motive.”

“I don’t know,” Ophelia adds, voicing her doubt.

For how vehemently against bringing Ayden to the castle he was, Aurelius has remained suspiciously quiet on the matter.

“And you, Aurelius? What do you think?” I push him to share his thoughts.

“I think it was a coincidental circumstance at best. While I don’t trust Prince Ayden, I don’t think he’s the prince they were referring to.” More cryptic answers. Why did I let this male fuck me, again?

I hear Elijah stifle a laugh as I stare down the frustrating male. “What other prince could it be?”

He just shrugs. “There are other kingdoms around us, Princess.”

“Well aware, Aurelius, but you can’t tell me you think Lennox is more inclined to attack than Prudia. That makes no sense.” I cross my arms and roll my eyes, which has Aurelius's temper flaring from the looks of his clenched jaw.

“I didn’t suggest that. I just said there were more kingdoms.”

I clench my fist, resisting the urge to punch him. “Could you be more vague right now?”

“If you’d like—” he starts but is cut off by Jade.

“Enough. You two are acting like petulant children, and it’s getting us nowhere. If we’re done here, I’m going to find a bottle of red to have for dinner.” She rolls her eyes and saunters toward the door.

“Don’t you meanwithdinner?” Elijah asks.

“I said what I said,” she replies without looking back.

As she exits the training room, Elijah moves to follow her. “I better make sure she finds something else to consume for dinner.”

Ophelia looks around the room, avoiding eye contact. “I think Layne wanted my help with something,” she mumbles and finds anywhere to be but trapped in a room with Aurelius and me.

The door clicks shut as Ophelia leaves, and I hear the lock turn.

“Are you trying to be difficult?” I shriek at him.

“No, I excel at it naturally.”

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