Page 158 of Bound to the Shadow Prince

Nemeth shakes his head. “It’s best if you remain here. Until we know what’s going on, I don’t trust anyone. The longer we keep the news of our child from them, the better. Let me go and speak to Ajaxi. He’s not very smart, but perhaps he can be coaxed into seeing things our way.”

“And whatisour way?” I ask, wanting to make sure we’re on the same page. “What is it we’re asking?”

He gazes down at me, his expression puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, what is our goal? What do we want from these people? What do we want from your king?”

His frown deepens. “To accept you as my mate and give you the honor you deserve.”

“And then what?” I gesture around us, at his apartments. “We live down here and I just ignore that all my people have been murdered and my sister enslaved?”

“What would you have me do, Candra?” His expression is patient. “I am taking things one step at a time. For now, I just want to ensure your safety.”

My safety…but no one else’s. I’ve never thought of myself as particularly altruistic, but I can’t sit back and just ignore the fact that those that lived have become slaves of the people here. “Nemeth, I saw my sister when you were in the palace earlier. She was waiting where I was. Did you know your brother Ajaxi has taken her captive? She’s his bed slave.”

Nemeth’s expression doesn’t change. “I knew she was taken as a spoil of war. I found out earlier. It is to be expected that the queen of the enemy is kept as a trophy, Candra.”

“Did they tell you that my nurse is dead?” My voice wobbles, and tears threaten, but I push them back. I don’t have time to cry about them today. When we’re safe and there’s no more to worryabout, then I’ll grieve Nurse’s passing. “Did they tell you that the people left in Lios were starving and broken when they raided the city and put every male to the sword? Did they tell you that they killed my nephew Allionel? He was a baby, Nemeth. Ababy. And your brothers murdered him.”

“I don’t agree with what they’re doing,” Nemeth says gently. “I would never agree to kill innocents. Soldiers are one thing, but old men and children are another.” He strokes my cheek. “But I cannot right all the wrongs from a place of no power,milettahn. You want me to race to my brother and demand that he free his captives when I cannot even convince him that my mate is my equal? That you should be safe with me instead of given to one of his generals?—”

I gasp. “What?”

His mouth goes flat. “It won’t happen, Candra. I won’t allow it. Don’t be afraid. But know that I’m doing everything I can. Once Ivornath listens to me, I can work to have your family freed. Until then, we must be patient. Understand?”

It’s frustrating, but I do understand. I want to stomp my foot like a spoiled little girl, but that won’t solve anything. “I hate this. I hate all of this.”

“I know. But will you trust me a bit longer? Please? Even you cannot woo someone in the space of a day. It took you over a year to seduce me.”

My mouth twitches, though I try not to smile and fail. “It’s because you’re far too honorable.”

“Then trust my honorable nature.”

“Ugh.” I do stomp my foot this time. “I hate your honorable nature sometimes. I think I’d prefer if you’d rush in and cut their throats.”

“Would you do the same to your sister?”

I glare at him, because he knows the answer to that. I might defy my sister, but at the end of the day, she’s still my family. “You?—”

There’s a knock at the door below.

Nemeth immediately pulls me behind him, his wings flaring protectively. I duck under his arm, worried. “Who’s here?”

“I don’t know. They cannot come in. I have my home warded. No one can come in through the front door without my express permission.” He frowns darkly at the offending door below. When there’s not a second knock, he touches my shoulder, pulling away. “Wait here, love.”

It’s not as if I can go anywhere, I want to point out. There are no stairs. But when he strides off the ledge and extends his wings, floating down, I move to the edge and kneel, peering down. I watch as he heads to the doors at the front and opens them. Even though I can only catch a glimpse of Nemeth’s head and his array of horns, I can tell by his reaction that there’s no one at the door. He reaches to pull something from a box next to the door, then frowns and tucks it under his wing.

When he shuts the door and turns away, I call out. “Who was it?”

“Just a message,” he says, and sets it down next to the door. It’s sealed with wax, a square of parchment with a splash of blood red on the center and a scrawl on the front that looks suspiciously as if it begins with a “C”.

“A message from who?”

He hesitates, and I get the sinking feeling that he doesn’t want to tell me. “Commander Tolian from Second House,” he admits after a long pause. “He is a rival. No doubt he is seeking information.”

“Is that my name on it?”

Nemeth disappears from below and a moment later he’s next to me. He helps me to my feet, rubbing my arm. “It’s nothing, Candra. I promise.”

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