Page 43 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King

Our injuries weren't nearly as bad as they could have been. Thalira had one especially bad scorpion sting that showed signs of infection, Velessa's arm was badly sprained, and several others had bites that required tending. Rhielle was mostly unscathed, aside from a nasty bite mark on her calf. Apparently she had some sort of shadow magic armor. Myantha had taken multiple bites and stings, but none were infected. Quen and Yuki were in the worst shape, with numerous purpling welts and bite marks, resulting in the servants suggesting they needed a specialist and then moving them to another room. Other servants entered with soft loose pastel dresses that looked as comfortable as sleep shirts. They worked with fast, efficient hands, but despite their speed, they were gentle, even kind.

After being bathed, I sat on the edge of a table as a gray-and-green robed fae pressed my shoulder. Another rubbed salve over my skin, saying something about protecting against the venom's side effects. It warmed my skin and smelled like lavender, peppermint, and chamomile. They seemed surprised when I barely flinched.

“She’s not even bruised,” the first said, disbelief in her voice.

“Are you certain?” asked the green-robed fae as he approached, arms clasped behind his back. He was older, with fading blond hair and murky brown eyes. The embroidered emblem on his chest included a staff and a dark cloud in iridescent black. “Were you hurt, young one? I am one of the head physicians in the palace. You have nothing to fear from any of us, and if we can give you aid, we will.”

“Yeah,” I said, shifting on the linen cot. “But I’m fine now.”

They exchanged a glance. “She’s the one who turned into the weird shadow beast,” said a small gray-robed fae who stood near the door. Fear tinged her voice.

"Does the change allow you to heal?" the green-robed fae asked. Fascination softened his voice. "You are the one from Earth?"

"Yes." I shrugged. "It's my wolf magic shooting through my body."

"What's a wolf?" He frowned, his forehead scrunching with thin lines as he tilted his head.

I paused, searching for the right words. “It’s what you call a shadow beast, I guess. I can shift from human to beast at will.”

The fae looked as if he wanted to ask more questions, but I was already slipping off the table. I left them to puzzle it out on their own and made my way back down the hall, pulling the fresh clothes tighter around me. When one of the other fae started to follow, he shook his head and said to let me be.

“Briar,” Myantha shouted, but I hurried out the door and slammed it behind me.

I needed solitude and to try to make sense of everything. No matter what I did or said, everything went wrong here. Even though he simply seemed interested, there was no telling what the physician would tell the reapers and the royals. I quickened my pace.

When I jogged down the hallway and knew the other women wouldn’t catch up to me, my lungs filled easier than they had since I’d walked into the Ascension Hall at noon. The sense of relief was overwhelming—no bug guts, no blood, no stings.

But every step away also drew my anger and twisted my heart. This entire competition was an excuse for sadistic assholes to get their jollies. Aelir had died, and for what? So Kaylen could look like a coward, though I suspected she believed the move was badass.

"You do know it's not safe to wander alone out here, Chaos?”

A knot formed in my throat as I spun around. Thalen was leaning against the dark wall. Shit. I’d been so focused on my emotions and my inward spiral, I hadn’t even noticed someone right on my heels. What kind of wolf-shifter was I? Clearly not strategic and smart, like Ember and Ryker.

“Oh, wait. I forgot.” He grinned and pretended his fingers were claws. “You can turn into a wild bitey shadow beast."

I rolled my eyes and turned my back on him. He was all mouth, which meant he had to be lacking in other areas. I doubted he was a serious threat.

“Do you plan on biting my head off?” he teased.

Of course, he didn’t know when to stop. He reminded me of Gage from my pack, and for the first time, I wished I had alpha-will power tomakeThalen shut up. "Don't tempt me." I lifted a brow and looked over my shoulder.

"I knew you liked me.” He held up a hand, examining his fingernails as though they were of great importance, and scurried to my side. “Always said you were a smart one."

"You all watched someone I care about die and didn't do a damn thing. Six others died too, for absolutely no good reason." My voice shook, and I stiffened. "Rules or not, that's not okay."

Thalen sighed and ran a hand through his shaggy hair. “It isn’t, and I know.” His eyes darkened and an unreadable emotion flickered through them before he caught it and drew it back in. “None of us could get through the veil to assist you. And believe me, some tried.”

My mouth dried. No, he wasn’t going to twist this and get me to soften to him once more. “You all are the royal family.” I took a step back from him. “What do you mean you couldn’t get through it?”

He hesitated, then put a finger to his lips. With a sly smile, he looped his arm with mine. I tugged back, but he held on tight. My heart pounded. Maybe hewasa threat.

“If you come with me, I can explain things better.” A line of concern etched into his forehead as he studied my reaction.

This could be a test, but was I willing to give up an opportunity to have some things explained to me? I needed to understand this world and what the hell this whole competition was about, but at the same time, what if he was leading me to Kaylen so she could kill me?

“Why should I trust you?” I had to use the one thing I had to my advantage—see if I could catch him in a lie.

He looked me dead in the eye. “You shouldn’t. I've given you no reason to, but I’d like to now.”

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