Page 37 of The Shadowbound King

Ginhad’s voice flowed through my memory.“Only the strongest among us can enter the Edelfen.”

Rane and Andrin had returned from the forest bloodied and bearing signs of a fight. Vivia had spoken of others being injured. What lurked in the shadows? What were the elves fighting?

Andrin continued feeding me. A few times, he held his goblet to my lips, and I swallowed wine in between bites of food. At last,the plate was empty. He released my waist, and I scrambled off his lap. Before I could kneel, Rane held out his goblet.

“Wine, pet. And be quick about it.”

Fantasies of stabbing him all over again played through my head as I fetched a fresh pitcher from the kitchen. When I returned, Andrin was deep in conversation with the robed, blond-haired man.

Rane’s lips curved as I climbed the dais. He sprawled in his chair, his legs crossed and one booted foot swinging slightly. He lifted his cup for me to fill it.

“Don’t spill, pet, or I’ll be very angry.”

“Stop calling me that,” I said through clenched teeth. Stepping close, I tipped the pitcher.

He pulled his cup away.

Sucking in a breath, I righted the pitcher just before wine splashed over the rim. Our gazes collided. His smile spread, a dangerous light dancing in his eyes.

“You should be more careful,” he said. Once again, he proffered his cup.

I hesitated, nerves twisting around my anger. Apparently, I hadn’t suffered enough. Or maybe he was just jealous he hadn’t gotten an opportunity to torment me.

My heart picked up as I aimed for his cup again. At the last second, he moved it a few inches to the left.

“Are you always this clumsy?” he asked, moving it back under the pitcher’s spout.

It was a childish game. Growing up at Purecliff, I’d longed for a sibling. Desperate for companionship, I’d sneaked through the shadows to the village, where I played with the children of bakers, farriers, and tailors. No matter who joined our games, there were always one or two bullies. They liked to see how far they could push. Children who showed even the slightestreaction became an immediate target. The trick was to ignore them until they grew bored and gave up.

I stared at Rane, pouring every ounce of indifference into my expression as I held the pitcher in front of me. Dimly, I was aware that Andrin had broken off his conversation and focused his attention on Rane and me.

Not breaking my stare, Rane raised his cup. “Go ahead,” he murmured. “Pet.”

Moving forward, I tipped the pitcher.

He jerked his glass away.

My temper snapped. In one swift movement, I dumped the pitcher into his lap. Wine soaked his trousers and spilled down his chair, spreading over the dais like blood.

I stepped back, expecting him to jump to his feet. Instead, he stood slowly, casually, as if he didn’t mind the mess. Wine rolled down his thighs and into the tops of his boots. His shoulders were loose, his expression unruffled.

Except for his eyes. They weren’t angry. No, they were flat and cold. Calculating and predatory.

The sigils on his neck shifted, vines and feathers sliding over each other. Then he twisted into shadow. A second later, an enormous crow perched on the arm of his chair. The size of a dog, it cocked its head, peering at me with one bright purple eye. Red wine beaded on its feathers.

My heart raced, memories of the crows in the Edelfen rushing back. Had he controlled those? Or were they part of him?

The crow fluttered its wings, sending wine flying. It released a low, rattling sound, then jumped into the air and shifted into swirling, black shadow. Another swirl of shadow, and Rane reformed. He looked at Andrin.

“My king?”

Andrin stood. Something unspoken passed between them. Then Andrin nodded.

A chill sprinted down my spine. I’d acted intemperately. Stupidly. Maybe they’d just decided they didn’t need me alive, after all.

Andrin looked at one of the knights flanking the doors. “Ready the dungeon.”

My blood rancold as I followed Andrin down narrow stone steps. The air grew cooler. Water dripped down the walls, and the scent of damp and decay reached my nose.

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