Page 33 of Ties of Shadow

I studied his face for treachery or mischief. What was he thinking? A siege? A chance to rob the castle, disguised in an act of kindness? Would he go so low to betray us all?

Uncle Koll began to chop the vegetables aggressively, and I glanced up to see him smirking. The Shade growled, and the old man cut more normally.

The Shade’s face was flint, so I continued, “It would certainly help. The land is cracked and baked and struggling.”

The Shade reached for my hand, drawing it up to the table as our gazes linked. “Exactly.” Exactly what? But his gaze held me captive as time slowed. My hand heated beneath his and the mark on my neck tingled and prickled like goosebumps. A deep ache burned in my chest. I squeezed back, mesmerized by the sensation of his skin on mine.

Jamison fluttered through the doorway and flew between us, breaking our eye contact and snapping me out of the moment as he reached the cabinet.“All the animals are sorted and accounted for.”

“No losses?”

Jamison landed upside down near the hanging teacups.“None, sir. Just some grumpier than others.”

Like you, I thought as I grabbed a strawberry.

“I’m not grumpy. I’m direct,”Jamison chirped.

I froze, the berry halfway to my lips. “I didn’t say that.”

The bat fluffed his furry chest and stretched out a wing.“You don’t have to say anything. You think so loudly! We can all—”

“Enough,” the Shade interrupted, exhaustion dragging the word out and his shoulders down.

“But I didn’t think thematanyone,” I said.

Jamison said,“You don’t need to. You are throwing them around. You haveno control.”

My eyes widened. “You can hear what I’m thinking all the time?”

“It’s horrible.”Jamison scrunched his fuzzy nose.

“And you too?” I pointed the strawberry between Uncle Koll and the Shade. “You’ve heard everything?” I couldn’t believe it.

“Believe it or not, my lady, your thoughts are as clear to us as speech.” Uncle Koll spoke quietly and not unkindly.

My thoughts whirled through the last hour—through the last five minutes. Through the Shade holding my hand.

Jamison chirped,“Yes, everything.”

My face burned red as I leapt away and off the stool. “How do I stop them? It’s…it’s aninvasion!”I set my hands on my head. “I don’t want you in my head!”

The Shade’s lips tipped up on the side, his self-satisfied smirk somehow still more alluring than irritating. How could he? And how could he not tell me?

“Think what you will, Dayspring, but it has helped me to determine if you were actually sent here to kill me or mine.” The Shade returned to his meal and ignored my outraged squawk.

I tried to burn his handsome face with the fire in my glare. “And are you satisfied?”

His gaze darkened with a swirl of shadow as his eyes danced down my form. “Hardly.” Jamison laughed in a sort of chortle, and the Shade grinned. “Even so, I can teach you to let out only the thoughts you wish.”

Stepping to his side, I set my hand on his arm. “Please. Please, teach me. It’s the castle, isn’t it? The magic of the castle that helps me hear the thoughts and share my own?”

The Shade glanced at my neck before meeting my gaze. “It’s something like that.” He shrugged as Uncle Koll set out steaming bread and a vat of soft butter. “But Jamison is right. Well, you’re right too. It’sworth teaching you control. I’m sure the animals would like to keep their thoughts to themselves as well.”

He passed me a torn piece of bread and drizzled a bit of honey on the top, licking his thumb after he replaced the spoon. “But first, Dayspring, let’s make the queen her potion.”

Chapter sixteen

Potions

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