Page 39 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King

He agreed with me? I almost drew back a step, and despite the confusion, I found it a little easier to breathe. Most of the others seemed in agreement as well, murmuring or nodding.

A Neutral Fae with a softer, younger voice cleared his throat. “We cannot eliminate her or any of the others from the tournament based on the conduct described when that was not listed among the rules. They must be considered and have the opportunity to continue proving themselves so long as they live, and so long as they do not murder a member of the Shadow Kingdom royal family.”

Vyraetos lifted his hand. “I am not suggesting that they should be eliminated from the competition. All conduct must be considered. It may simply be that Fate has allowed them to be in this place so that they may serve as the refining fire for the true queen. It seems likely that the remaining tests Fate will require will examine wisdom and intellect, but we will see what is drawn forth tomorrow when we discover Fate’s will for the second test.”

Most of the councilors nodded.

I braced my blistered hands on my belt. “Regardless, I want guards in the halls and protective sigils applied to the guest wings. The needless bloodshed stops now. And the contestants must all receive healing treatment.”

I caught Elara’s eye. She had drawn back into the shadows, her hand against the wall. Her face was deathly pale, her lips tinged purple through her weakening glamour, and her eyes shone bright with unshed tears. A shadow passed over her face as she strengthened her glamour.

“Prioritize treatment and care as justice deems," I commanded.

She gave a small nod, and her lips pressed into a tight line.

Thank Fate she was smart and understood what I could not speak aloud. Regardless of the conduct of the women, I had to remain princely. But my first stop out of this cave would be to Briar.

Movement shifted near me, and a low groan reached my ears. I froze, ice cutting through my veins.

I’d forgotten about my father. He’d remained silent throughout the trial, but now tears—actual tears—filled my father's eyes, and his body sagged. I was at his side at once, gripping his arm and guiding him to the door. He stumbled half a step and then grabbed hold of my arm. His fingers squeezed harder than they had in a long time. "Not like then, but the same. The blade through the back. Can’t be saved," he muttered. His left shoulder drooped, his wings flinching and then folding tighter against his back as his dark-blue eyes grew dimmer and murkier.

Feck! Not here, not now. We had to get him out of here before the councilors noticed. His hold on his magic wasn’t slipping this time—his body and mind were.

Elara’s gaze flicked between our father’s face and me. She stepped forward out of the shadow. "With permission, I will see to the contestants. Esteemed council members, I invite you to return to the Ascension Hall with me to continue the evaluations." She spoke louder than usual this time, drawing their attention to herself. She didn't wait for my response before she was moving to the exit.

Silus inclined his head and fell in alongside her. Both disappeared in a spiral of dark smoke.

As the Council continued to speak among themselves, I guided my father to the larger door with the shadow beast sigil. Thalen came up on my father’s other side and pretended to lean in to whisper in his ear, but really helped to support him.

As soon as we stepped upon the shadow beast sigil in the doorframe, I reached out with my magic. The red of its eye glowed, and the black mist coiled around us. We reappeared at the end of the hall in the royal family's private quarters, just a few doors away from my father’s chambers.

I half expected Thalen to make some ill-timed joke, but he had gone almost as pale as his hair, and his amber eyes had dimmed. Somehow that made the situation worse, making me feel as if my world was breaking apart.

Father wrapped his arms around himself. Two tears rolled down his cheeks. "It shouldn't be this way. It wasn’t this way.”

"What shouldn't be this way?" I frowned and guided him forward when his pace slowed. His grip wasn’t as strong as it had once been, but his weight certainly hadn’t lessened. At least here, only the servants who had been sworn to our family were present. Their loyalty was to us and not the Shadow Kingdom as a whole.

"They've never been this brutal," Father continued. “And I was invited to three besides my own. Never—never like this.”

My scowl deepened, and an uncomfortable pit formed in my stomach. "The trials? I have heard about their harshness, but not of the kind of brutality we witnessed today. I believed the purpose was to test the candidates."

He waved his hand weakly, a rumble of a growl forming in his throat. His booted feet shuffled over the rug, creasing and rumpling it with each step. "It is—it is not like this. It was not like this before. There were deaths, yes. From accidents. Most survived."

As soon as we got him to his bedchamber door, it opened, and my father’s most trusted servant appeared. He bowed his head and stepped forward to take my father’s other side, allowing Thalen to dart away. He disappeared into one of the washrooms, and I heard the faint sounds of retching and wondered how long he’d been holding that in.

Father's hand on my arm faltered, but he fumbled about until he held on to me again. "I tried to save your mother, but it did no good." His voice cracked. “They stabbed her like that. So quickly. So cruelly. Didn’t even give her a chance.”

My spine tensed, fire radiating through every joint in my body. This wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have right now.

"Easy, Father. Deep breaths.”

His wings twitched and fluttered as he tightened them against his back, and he mumbled something I couldn’t quite make out. His foot caught on the black rug, causing his body to lurch and the servant grunted.

The bedrooms in this palace transformed to reflect the tastes of those who lived in them. Ever since my mother had died, his had been dull black and lifeless gray. No trace of bright color or shine. No richness or luster. I hated it in here, and tonight it felt even more oppressive than usual. It usually smelled of junipers and smoke, but now something was off, like bad wine or vinegar had been added to the mix.

"Father—" I looked to the gray-cloaked servant as we moved Father onto the bed. “Go fetch him some fortified wine, red tea, and the healing herbs. He needs rest.”

Mumbling and slurring, Father lay back, his eyes unfocused.

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