Page 54 of Shadows of Fate

“I told the recruiter about why I wanted to be turned, about my story. He said he liked my attitude and thought I’d do well. Sent me over to his commander for another meeting. I remember being so put off by that. The man beside me was signed right up, turned right there on the side of the sea, but I had to be interviewed again?” He chuckled. “The commander came over to see me, and if I hadn’t been as desperate as I was? I would’ve run. The male was so imposing. Tall, broad, muscles that screamed he knew how to kill a man without using a weapon. His name was Valentine, but everyone just called him V. He told me to go home and think on it. He said once he turned someone, there was no going back. Your life now belonged to the court. You lived, breathed, and died for this court. I was so angry, but I went home and thought about what he said. Was I ready for that type of commitment? What about my revenge? Would I be forced to give it up? Never see those responsible punished?”

He looked back down at me and smiled sadly. “I went back three nights later, scared. But I had made up my mind. I found V. He smiled when I walked up to him demanding he turn me immediately. He said he was proud of me for taking the time to put thought behind it. It turned out, V wasn’t just some random commander in the Court of Shadows growing an army—he was the ruler of the court. A direct descendant of Elric himself. I, of course, had no idea at the time. Not until after I was turned, working my way through the ranks, trying to gain control of my shadow magic. V helped me get my revenge, and then he assigned some of his direct circle to train me, but it wasn’t until I’d met Micah that anyone was able to truly help me get a handle on my magic. That’s a story for another time, though, Micah and I.”

Raiden cleared his throat and was silent for a moment. “I’d worked my way up to the top of the Shadow Brigade after about three hundred years. Somewhere in all of that mess, obviously learning who V truly was—not that it had gotten me any advantages, of course. But I’d worked my way into his circle. He’d never found his mate, never had any children. So, when he decided he was done, he handed the reins over to me. He said he’d seen something in me that night at the docks.” He shrugged. “No idea what, but he spent another few years showing me the ropes, helping me build my inner court. Then he just disappeared. I’ve been ruling now for almost as long.”

“So a direct descendant of one of the original four turned you, and you had no idea?” I asked, shocked.

Raiden laughed. “Yeah. Completely clueless. Vampires had just arrived in Darkmoor when I approached them, darling. And even then, it’s much like it is now. Most don’t know what the rulers look like unless they’re forced to know. It’s safer for us that way.”

A sudden knock on our door cut off my reply. “Are you two alive in there? We have work to do, Ice Sickle! Hop off that fine male already,” Bastian hollered through the door.

Raiden reached down, pulling the blanket over the top of us. “Shh, maybe if we don’t say anything, he’ll go away,” he whispered.

I giggled—yes, giggled. In happiness.

“I can hear you still, my oh-so horny ruler! We have things to go over, and updates from Cedar already. Let’s go! Library, pronto.” I heard him clap through the door as he walked away.

“I don’t think we’ll be able to get out of this one, My Lord,” I whispered back to him.

He leaned down and kissed me slowly, before pulling back and locking eyes with me. “I believe you are correct, My Queen. Should we go and face our loyal subjects?”

I nodded my head. “I believe so, My Lord.”

* * *

Raiden and I walked into the library hand in hand. Since we’d gotten out of bed, I found it quite difficult not to touch him. Not sure what the Fates were thinking when they made these rules, but I wasn’t sure how we’d work tied at the hip.

Bastian let out a low whistle when he spotted us, while Micah and Allie just smiled.

“Blood is available over here, but I’m sure you two have no need for such things now,” Bastian stated with a smirk.

“Anyway. Updates? I believe you mentioned,” I replied, trying to ignore the blush gracing my pale skin.

Laughter erupted from his mouth. “Already down with the ruling over the court, My Queen? I’m here for it,” Bastian retorted. I could feel Raiden’s shadows growing from beside me as he let out a low growl. “Apparently the possessive trait from the lore is true, lovely.”

“Do you have a death wish?” Micah jabbed.

“Nope,” Bastian replied, letting the P really pop for added dramatics, I’m sure. “But riling that one up is fun for me.” He shrugged, pointing to Raiden.

I laid a hand on Raiden’s arm, willing his shadows to remain calm. Thankfully I could feel them recede, only a few escaping to wrap around my hand and up my arm. I knew what they were capable of, seeing it firsthand, but they always just felt calming to me—just like him. Safe.

“Keep pushing me, find out what happens,” Raiden grumbled, before squeezing my hand and pulling me over to a chair with him. Sitting down, he pulled me into his lap. “Now, back to what my queen said. We were told there were updates.”

Micah cleared his throat, focusing his attention on us. “I received a letter from Cedar earlier this evening, he’s on his way back here now. Silvana was right to send him, the male is thorough. He was able to track down the Eternal Outcasts to a small house in Coalfell. Apparently, most of the higher-ups have fled our court—can’t imagine why,” he said, eyeing me sarcastically. I smirked, happy to know my work paid off. “He attached the location in the letter, it’s not far from here, just over the boundary into the Court of Wolves.”

Bastian picked up where he left off. “I think we should send a few more of the brigade in to check things out, and while they do that, we need to… experiment with your new bond.” He eyed us skeptically.

I glanced back at Raiden, who had been fiddling with my hair behind me. He stopped and looked back at me before we both looked at Bastian.

“What does that mean?” I asked, breaking the silence that had descended upon the room.

Bastian looked over at Micah and Allie. “Okay, so it’s your turn. Either one.” He leaned back in his chair, taking a drink from his glass.

“The threads have fully connected you two now,” Allie said, smiling.

Raiden’s hand gripped my hip, his thumb stroking my side under my shirt. “What does that mean, Allie?” he asked calmly.

Micah glanced toward her and then shook his head before continuing in her place. “Allie and I have been researching all the lore, records, and so on that we have here at the manor on bonds since you two… disappeared. There wasn’t much documentation, though. The original four court rulers were the main vampires who recorded what their bonds were like once they happened. There was the obvious—having connected souls, feeding from each other, an intense need for each other, the soul-bond mark.” He paused for a moment, looking a bit uncomfortable. “Then there were things less common—being able to speak mind-to-mind, power increases, dream sharing. One couple even reported their powers combining, creating new powers together.” He glanced over at Bastian.

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