Page 48 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King

My back straightened. Did he mean another bridal candidate? “I see.” A huge part of me regretted stopping him. I wanted his company to see us together. At least my scent would be on him.

This was further evidence that I needed to stay the hell away from him. “Well, I’m going to leave now.” I spun on my heels, not wanting to break down in front of him. I hoped like hell I didn’t pass his visitor on my way to my room.

I marched to the door and threw it open, accidentally slamming it against the wall.

“Briar, are you all right?” Vad asked with concern.

Yeah. We were not doing this. I was acting insane, and staying would only let my psycho self out more. “Just peachy. Night.” And I marched out the door.

Footsteps came toward me, and my mouth soured. I didn’t want anyone to see me. I tugged on my wolf to help me move faster and hear better as I sprinted down the reverse path Thalen and I had taken, just wanting to get back to my room.

The hairs on the back of my neck wouldn’t settle. That feeling of being watched slid over my skin like slime, thin and crawling.

The footsteps faded, and there were no sounds of someone flying. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

This whole day had been a disaster. I needed to go to “my” room and process everything. I was now so paranoid that I thought I was being watched when no one was around.

The only sounds now were my own footsteps brushing against the smooth stone and the whisper of my skirt skimming the floor. But the sense of that ominous presence stayed, coiling tighter with every step.

Ugh. I couldn’t shake it. I quickened my pace, then slowed to see if I could detect anything.

A set of footstepsthudded.

There it was. The sound was too soft for a servant, but too steady for coincidence. My stomach clenched, and my wolf huffed, like she was sayingtold you so.

I picked up speed, and the footsteps synced. Fear clawed my chest.

Twice more I changed my pace—fast, then slow, then fast again.

So did they.

Panic surged under my skin, thick and stifling. I broke into a run, the dress catching around my legs as I rounded the corner fast enough to damn near slam into one of the black-armored guards stationed by the archway.

The guard turned toward me, his creepy ass eyes the only thing I could see.

“Someone’s following me,” I said, my breathing jagged and loud. My chest burned, my lungs dragging in air that didn’t feel like enough.

Two of the black armored guards stepped forward, hands gripping their swords as they moved to investigate. I didn’t stay to see if they found anyone. I didn’t care. I just ran the rest of the way to my room.

My feet skidded as I threw myself through the doorway. I slammed the door shut and shoved the heavy end table back in place, the legs scraping across the floor. Rubbing my hands together to try to release some of my anxiety, I surveyed the room slowly. Soft lamplight cast the room in a gentle golden glow, and I searched the darker corners for a sign that someone was there while tugging on my wolf senses.

My heart slowed as I realized I was alone. I dropped onto the bed with a huge exhale, the warmth of safety wrapping around me and my fear retreating.

I curled inward, arms wrapping tight around my body as everything the fear had held at bay crashed over me. Aelir’s face flashed in my mind—her wide green eyes, the way her voice trembled when she’d whispered that she didn’t want to die. Kaylen had taken her life from her like it didn’t matter, like she was just a bug to be squashed in the path of Kaylen’s plans.

I wished I'd been faster. Maybe I could have stopped that fucking bitch.

And Ember—Fate,Ember—was still on Earth, probably wondering if I’d vanished or died or just walked away. I missed her so much it physically hurt. Like something had been torn out of my chest and left raw. My only comfort was the faint warmth of my pack links.

My fingers curled over the spot until my wolf let out a broken whine, mourning with me.

Then the moment with Vad came to me. He seemed drawn to me the way I was to him, though we could never work out. My lips tingled where his had brushed them. And I hated that I’d stopped him, because if a brush felt that amazing, I could only imagine what a real kiss would be like.

I could smell his scent on me, and I sobbed until my nose became so stuffy so I couldn’t breathe.

I couldn’t allow him to ruin me.

At some point, without meaning to, I fell asleep.

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