Page 11 of Ties of Shadow

His dark amber eyes stared hard into mine. “What did he say to you? Why did my guards die, while you survived?”

I furrowed my brow. “I’m certain I don’t know, Your Highness. He said nothing.”

The king took one further step closer. “You can’t expect us to believe that. You colluded with the Shade and brought him to my doorstep! You”—he sputtered—“youcurtsiedto the monster!”

An icy grip seized my chest. “I coll—Your Majesty and Your Highness, I would never. I’ve been dedicated to the crown and you and the queen and our people for my entire life! You have sheltered us, given us a home—”

“Your status is such, though, that anyone could understand why you might reach for power not your own.” King Harold frowned. “You could have made a dark pact in a desperate grab for evil magic.”

My jaw dropped indignantly. “I couldnot.Not ever. I aim to help and be a gift to everyone I meet. I would never hurt the crown or you in this way.”

Prince Leon studied me before he sat back, all tension gone from his shoulders. He scratched at his chin. “Very well. I had to be sure.” King Harold seemed less satisfied with my answer.

I let out a long breath. “Of course, Your Highness. I…I understand.”

“I’m also sorry on behalf of the other young people of the court. I know they hurt you yesterday,” the prince added.

Unexpected angry tears sprang up against my will. I tried to laugh them away with a quick wipe of a finger under my lid. “I’m sure I would have done the same in their shoes.”

His gaze captured mine. “I’m not sure that’s true, Aelia. I think you may be too sweet for such low humor.” He smiled, his dimple warming up his face in the expression I knew best. He was my friend, as much as a prince could be anyway. The king crossed his arms. I pulled my hair around my shoulders in discomfort at the silence, and the prince’s gaze dropped to my neck. His eyes narrowed at the mark.

“Chef says it’s only a mole. I cannot remove it.” The prince’s expression flickered with something I couldn’t name, but his dimple was gone. Any warmth remaining in the room fled with it.

Huffing out through his nose, he sat back. “I’m certain she is right.” He crossed his arms again. “I must return to see the progress of the repairs.”

Relief filled me. “Alright. Thank you for checking on me.”

He stood and took me in again. “You are my responsibility as much as anyone in the kingdom. We must care for our own.”

“Speaking of which,” King Harold held up his hand to pause Leon’s exit. “The castle is in an uproar. The ballroom was destroyed. The guards are searching for whatever weakness allowed that scoundrel entrance. The whole world is now eyeing the other as a conspirator.” The king’s black eyes pierced like a sliver. “Lay low, Aelia. Better to rest from the burns that he no doubt gave you, the reason you must always stay in your room to recover.”

I frowned. “But Your Highness, Ifeel—”

“Terrible burns. Horrible. Only saved because you hid behind the monster who shielded himself and accidentally protected you.” He glared at me meaningfully. “Remember: Prosperity requires sacrifice.”

I was to lie? My lips pinched in confusion. “Y-Yes, Your Highness.”

Leon and King Harold exited into a group of soldiers, their tromping steps echoing as they made their way from my chambers.

The door in the back of the room that accessed the servant’s passage opened, and Chef bustled in with a tray full of steaming soup, tea, and cookies. Setting it on my lap, she sat on the bed beside me. “Gave me a fright, you did. I plan to live to see my grandchildren, child, and you go getting wrapped up in that demon-spawn shadow-mongering night-licker.”

I had yet to hear her curse like this. “Chef!”

“It’s only the truth. That demon shouldn’t be allowed to breathe or live or poison our air with his presence. It was a good thing you were so near to him. His shadows must have doused you both when the prince threw his flames. Though, how the prince could… Well, never mind. You hadn’t a burn on you! It seems a shame he escaped, however.” She stirred the soup and held out the spoon for me.

I jerked my head down. “A shame,” I agreed as I sipped her offering. My mind conjured those bright green eyes, piercing and searching. My scalp still felt the pressure of his hands as he gently held me above the ground.

“Your mark has another line today, this one on the bottom. A swirl with two arms has started.”

My eyes widened. “What does it mean? Am I sick? Should we cut it off?”

Chef’s face flooded with compassion. “These kinds of things are not cured by a simple procedure, as you might know.” It was nearlyblack, entirely too dark to be a bond mark. It had to be just a scabbing from the acid rain. I ignored the squiggle in my gut.

My father chose that moment to burst into the room. Chef stood, and the cutlery clattered against the bowl.

“My child, are you alright?” He stumbled to my bedside, clasped my hands, and leaned too close, his fermented breath burning my nostrils. “I was worried you wouldn’t wake from the shock of the experience.”

“I’m not convinced I’m awake yet.” I rubbed my forehead, still dazed from my encounter with the prince and king. “I’m apparently terribly burned and bound to my room for the time being.” At my father’s examination of my very unburned features, I continued. “As ordered by the king.”

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