Page 38 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King

If one of these women didn’t kill that bitch, I might do it myself, which wouldn’t bode well for anyone.

Face flushing, Kaylen let the knife disappear. “There can be only one queen. Why do you care? With her eliminated—”

Briar stood, her hair hanging down her front, covering her ample breasts. It was somehow a brighter copper than before the lights had gone out.

She lifted her head high, and I couldn’t stop myself from taking in her figure. She was gorgeous, inside and out. I hated that everyone could see her like this. In fact, I wanted to stab everyone’s eyes out, but that could happen after she got to safety.

“You fuckingmonster,” Briar spat, Aelir’s blood dripping from her hands. “I will take pleasure in killing you.”

“Like you ever could,” Kaylen exclaimed, but the irony of her clutching the forearm Briar had bitten to her chest in clear discomfort had a low laugh escaping me before I could hold it in. Briar’s spirit was exceptional.

She’d proven she couldn’t be discounted, and if Kaylen were smart, she’d realize that.

“Seriously.” Briar snorted. “You’re saying that after Inippedyou on yourforemanand you freaked out? The only reason your bone didn’t fracture was that I pulled back. Next time, it won’t be your forearm I go after.”

Remembering her in beast form had a shiver running down my spine. My wings tightened. I’d never seen anything like that before—it had been magnificent, but also unnerving. Who knew what other magic she possessed?

“You won’t get the chance, weakling,” Kaylen screamed, and wind began whipping around Briar.

A sharp blast of flames exploded from Quen’s hands, and the fire singed Kaylen’s hair.

Kaylen squealed, falling back a few steps. The wind faded.

Lifting her arms, Yuki raised two blocks of stone, creating a barrier between their group and the others. “And you thought no one would pay back the debt? If not for Briar, we wouldn’t be breathing. You and your cabal tried to kill us after we did our share. You’re scaffing cowards!”

The coiling of blue water whips and the hissing of wind struck up as two others took up positions on either side of Briar. And then Rhielle spread her arms, and her shadow tendrils crept out like roots spreading over the stone.

“If you—” Rhielle scoffed “—ladieswould like a cheap, cruel death, I will happily oblige you. But like I said, these challenges are hard enough. We don’t have to be friends, but by Fate we surely can be enemies.”

Kaylen and her supporters growled threats but didn’t break the barrier.

And my respect for each woman surrounding Briar rose exponentially.

The murmurs of the council members jarred me back to the balcony. They spoke of Kaylen and Rhielle but didn’t mention anyone else, not even the women who’d died.

What the feck was all of this? What game was Fate playing with these atrocious trials? No rumor or tale I’d heard of the trials in other kingdoms had come close to capturing what we’d just witnessed.

I’d felt uneasy the entire time, my stomach twisting in knots from the moment we’d stepped into this foul-smelling observation booth situated above the cavernous arena. And it had only gotten worse once the trial started in earnest. The council had offered us chairs and refreshments, but I’d refused. Thank the scaffing void for that.

I had to find a way to ensure that Briar was kept safe until the end, even if she wasn't the one Fate chose. She had to live.

Something was wrong with me. Maybe the ailment that destroyed my father and weakened my sister was now affecting me. The tugging in my chest kept me from breathing properly, my lungs so tight I couldn’t take a full breath. I wanted to punch straight through that veil and go to Briar.

“You can tell thatthatone has tremendous power yet to be revealed,” said one creaky-voiced shadow councilor. “And she’s a Shadow Fae as well. When we discuss the most promising of the candidates, she must be at the top of the list.”

"I agree," another of the Shadow Council said. "She is already showing great promise, and unlikethatone, her magic is knowable. We don't want a red shadow beast for a queen."

“Yes, and the ruthlessness the tall Sylvan Fae showed was striking—”

A growl rose in my throat. Kaylen would never be queen. I’d cut my own throat and hers before thateverhappened. However, I’d made enough errors in front of the Council and needed to compose myself. Briar was safe. She had made strong allies to help her fight. She'd done well.

I couldn’t continue to break down in front of the council—couldn’t let them see this soul-sucking weakness that made my blood boil—but I wouldn’t stand by in silence. “That Sylvan Fae is a coward. Physically she possesses strength and magic, but she has no strength of will nor discretion. Certainly not behavior appropriate for a queen.”

Two council members, one from the Neutral Council and from the Shadow Council, stepped back, lifting their heads in shock. “The purpose of this test, Your Highness, was to identify ruthlessness. It is not forbidden for the contestants to behave in such a manner.”

I hated their smug condescension. The knife in my gut and the tightness in my lungs remained, along with that horrid tugging sensation. “No, but it speaks to her character and the kind of queen she would be.” I kept my voice steady. “As far as I’m concerned, any of the fae who lured another to their platform and cast them out after they had already contributed to strengthening the shield should not be considered further. Such a woman would be unfit as a queen and just as likely to create problems as resolve them.” Briar had shown ruthlessness as well, but against herself and in her efforts to ensure all in her circle survived.

Vyraetos nodded somberly. He kept his hands folded before himself, his movements so slight he looked almost like a statue. “To lead is not to conquer by any means necessary, but to weigh the consequences of one’s conquest and intention. That, she failed to do. She is like a double-edged sword without a hilt, sharp, but capable of cutting us even more grievously than our enemies. She has not shown honor or wisdom.”

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