Page 45 of Daughter of Shadows and Ash

I'm starting to think this bond is cursing you with lunacy.

If it is, I'll gladly live the rest of my life cursed under your enthrall. I can't help but be obsessed with you.

Oryn set his fork down as a tall, dark-haired fae male approached. The male wore a formal black tunic that melded with his dark leather pants.

"Kyler!" Oryn leapt from his seat with a grin, meeting him at the steps.

They clasped arms, and I took in the newcomer's presence. A sword hung at his hip, completing his dark ensemble.

"I hope I'm not too late," his deep voice reached me, stirring an inexplicable sense of familiarity. He sounded like I'd imagined every male lead in my favorite books. That must be it. I studied him, searching my memory for any previous encounter. Surely I would remember him if I had. Across the room, I caught Ingrid's cold gaze. Her eyes flicked between Oryn and Kyler then narrowed again as she met my stare.

Oryn guided him behind the table, and I rose to greet them.

"Kyler, meet Alora, my future queen." Gods, Oryn's voice swelled with such pride, as though I were his long-awaited salvation rather than his father's prophesied tool.

"It's nice to meet you, Lady Alora." Kyler bowed, and I answered with a graceful curtsy.

"A pleasure." As our eyes met, something snapped taut within me like a bowstring drawn too tight. His deep brown eyes widened as if he felt it too. The wine from my private drinking game - taking a sip every time the king mentioned the prophecy - was hitting harder than expected. I fought to keep my balance, determined not to appear like some swooning court lady.

"The pleasure's all mine," Kyler's voice cut through the haze like a blade. The boys fell into conversation, and heat crept up my neck.

"Excuse me," I murmured, though Oryn was deep in conversation with Kyler. His attention snapped to me instantly, his arm snaking around my waist.

"Are you okay?" He whispered against my ear.

I waved him off like swatting away a persistent fly. "Just need a little fresh air. I don't want to pull you away from your friend. I'll be back, I promise."

He nodded at Magnus, who stood vigilant near the dais. "Don't stray too far, Love." His grip loosened, and I felt his gazefollow me as I carefully descended the dais and slipped through the balcony doors. The night air hit my face, and clarity slowly returned.

"Everything alright, my lady?" Magnus stepped just behind me, his face etched with concern.

"I'm fine, it was just suffocating in there." I moved to the railing, pressing my palms against the cool marble. Below, the gardens sprawled out in moonlit splendor. Voices drifted up from below, drawing my attention. Two figures stood in conference - one I recognized as the king, whose absence from the ball I'd barely noticed, too busy drinking through his prophecy speeches. The other lurked in shadow, features obscured.

"Just get it done." The king's command cut through the night before he stalked away, likely heading back before his absence was noted.

His conspirator emerged from the shadows, making his way through the garden. As he turned, his profile caught the moonlight, and my world tilted on its axis like a ship in a storm. The king's secret meeting wasn't with just anyone - it was with Johan. The implications of this discovery sent ice through my veins.

Chapter 32

Without wasting another breath, I whirled back toward the celebration.

Oryn and Kyler still chatted near the head table, while the revelers had succumbed to raucous merriment. The room echoed with laughter as fae and mortals alike spun to the music, their tankards of ale and wine sloshing dangerously.

I set my sights on a hallway just to the right of the balcony area. It would be the fastest way out of here. Keeping to the shadows, I slipped past, praying my betrothed wouldn't spot me.

With each step, the cacophony of the party faded. Once I no longer could hear the music, I looked around and confirmed I'm finally alone. I brought shadows around me, covering me in darkness. Now cloaked, I ran towards the first set of stairs and continued towards the gardens. Mercifully, this part of the castle was home to straightforward passages.

My heart sank as I realized all traces of Johan had vanished, as if the wind itself had conspired to erase his existence in the brief time it took me to reach the lush gardens. I couldn't findso much as a boot print. I rushed through the main paths and checked each exit. After about twenty minutes, I had accepted he's gone without a trace. That murderous bastard was probably sleeping soundly by now, his conscience soothed by the blood money he earned from our so-called rulers.

I made my way back to the ballroom where the music had shifted to a sweet melody. Just before entering, I disbanded my shadows, the loss of them sending a shiver down my spine. I felt naked, especially in the revealing dress chosen for me. I surveyed the party, no one appeared to notice my absence. I'd feared my new status would draw unwanted attention, complicating my efforts to investigate. But the royal fae were truly wrapped up in themselves, appointing a nobody like me as the future princess was good for a laugh but not enough to halt their interests in their own quest for gaining more power in their social standing.

I returned to the dais, finding Kyler gone and in his place, a nobleman from a neighboring town speaking in hushed tones with Oryn. The male didn't see me approach from his right, but Ryn's blue eyes tracked my every step.

"…You should be marrying my Tatiana, sire. She's of noble breed, very powerful in fire magic. She would be honored to give you an heir worthy of the crown." The nobleman slurred. Ryn's gaze turned razor sharp as he seized the man's throat, lifting him until his boots barely scraped the stone floor.

"Lord Yrenez, I don't believe I asked for your choice of my wife when I asked you how the pumpkin crop was this season. I most certainly did not ask for the hand of your wretched daughter," he growled. The crowd before us hushed, the music even quieter than before. "Lady Alora was deemed chosen by the gods themselves, in more ways than one the most powerful match for me. Do you dare defy the gods."

Lord Yrenez whimpered and violently tried to shake his head, "No, sire, I misspoke-"

---