Page 64 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King

Myantha staggered to her feet, seeming to have tripped, her ragged pink and red skirt tangled around her golden-brown legs. Thalen stood beside her, his hand at her elbow as he helped her stand. He said something to her in a tone so soft I didn’t catch it, and she turned her arm over to show some of the stings and bruises. Whatever he said in response made her blush and duck her head. Oh. This was a delightful twist. There were so many ways I could get even if this was going where it seemed to be.

Before I could speak, Kaylen crossed to me, clearly desiring attention and feeling she deserved it as she was one of the three winners. “Your Highness.” Her now unbound wings fluttered as she tipped her head. A yellow fluid on her cheek had already seeped beneath the crude temporary bandage. “I am honored to be among the three chosen to dance with you at the ball. If I might be so bold, I know the perfect song. ‘Waltz of the Moonlit Wings.’ It's a special song among the Sylvan Fae.”

I pressed my lips into a tight line. That song was easily ten minutes long and could be made even longer. It was traditionally played as the third song in the lineup if the king did not open with a dance with one of the contestants. "No. The songs have already been chosen, and you will receive the first dance."

Her brow furrowed. "The first?" Her mouth pinched. She understood the first dance was the shortest, and its sole purpose was to indicate that the ball was beginning in full and that the attendees should begin to pay attention.

"The first." I canted my head, my voice hard and with enough authority that she would not dare to question me. "And I recommend that you see the physician soon for that bite, or else the venom will leave you with a nasty scar. It would be a shame for your one good feature to be so ruined."

Her face twisted, and a look of pure hate and venom sparked in her silver eyes. She dipped her head forward though and said, "As you say, Your Highness."

An uneasy sensation coiled within me, warning me yet again that this woman was not to be trusted.

ChapterTwenty-One

Briar

My body ached so much I could’ve easily burst into flames. The stone mug of red tea in my hands nearly splashed over the edge as I walked into my room and leaned back against the door. I had all sorts of paste on me. Physician Morlo had treated me and told me to return to my room and bathe for thirty minutes while drinking all the contents in the mug.

I placed the mug beside the basin and returned to the door to shove the nightstand back in front of it so no one could get in without me knowing. My arms ached and my legs burned, and I only managed to put it on the side, but I would still have enough of a warning.

Eagerly, I filled the basin and found a gown in the dresser across from the bed. It was silky and thin, intended as pajamas, and it stuck to the paste, but it beat being naked until the bath was ready. After a few minutes, I decided I didn’t want to wait any more and stepped into the steamy water as the basin continued to fill. The crimson water lapped at my legs and rose higher as I took a sip of the nutty herbal tea and laid my head back to try to relax for a bit.

The whole trial had been awful, but at least every one of my friends had made it. Still, the most pressing thought on my mind was how the prince had come to me. I could’ve sworn he’d been concerned, but Ihadbeen the first to win. He’d checked on Rhielle and even Kaylen when I was leaving. That was the order we’d finished in.

I wasn’t special to him, and I didn’t need to fool myself otherwise. Besides, he’d checked Rhielle’s leg too.

The pit in my stomach deepened, and my wolf growled at the memory of his eyes on her wound. My fingers flexed over the edge of the slick basin, my knuckles blanching. The urge to rip her throat out surged through me once more.

I held my breath and submerged my entire body underwater, needing help to clear the awful thoughts in my head, and for the heat to cover my whole body. Seeing his eyes on her had had my pulse racing, and I didn’t know what the hell was wrong with me. I stayed under until my lungs screamed; then I lifted my head and allowed the cold air to assault my face.

Taking in ragged breaths as my survival instincts kicked in, I forced myself to relax. Rhielle was my friend, and she’d needed tending to, the same as me. Hell, she’d needed more care than me, and I should have been grateful that he’d been concerned for her too. Losing control of my emotions around him wouldn’t amount to anything good, especially if I attacked my only friend here.

I closed my eyes, my throat tightening. I didn’t belong here, and the sooner I got back to Ember, the better. I needed to get far, far away from Vad. Away from his stupid handsome face, his stupid strong arms that made me wish he’d cover my body with his, and his amazing spicy leather scent that I wanted to rub all over myself.

Fuck. Imissedhim. My entire body tensed as my wolf whined.

No. I didn’t miss him. Icouldn’t. I stayed in the water, trying to relax, though my entire body remained weak with fatigue and strain. Still, I remained in the basin, following the physician’s advice. I had to appear put together for myself, nobody else. I refused to allow them to believe they broke me.

When the last of the tea was gone and the heat had turned tepid, I eased myself from the basin and slipped back into the gown. The fabric clung to my damp skin, but it was soft and light. The stiffness and aches had left, the cuts, scrapes, and bruises gone like the water draining from the basin.

The only thing other than my heart that still hurt was my lower leg. The cut from the spike had been fairly deep, though now it was only a little tender.

Between Morlo’s advice and my shifter healing, I felt almost normal.

I’d barely walked back into the bedroom when there was a knock on the door and the nightstand scraped across the floor. “Hey—” I snarled.

The three servants in gray robes peered through the crack, eyes bright with excitement. The tall one slipped inside and pushed the nightstand away and let the other two in, both holding cedar boxes, one large and one small. “Come along now, miss,” the tall one said, coming to stand in front of me and taking me by the arm. “We must get you ready for the ball!”

The two other servants placed the boxes on the foot of the bed and scampered back, squeeing and clapping their hands.

It was a little weird, but it didn’t feel like they meant any harm. “What are these?”

“Just open them! They’re for the ball tonight.” The short one practically vibrated with excitement as she pointed to the larger of the two boxes.

Curiosity won out as I stepped forward and opened the lid. The woodsy scent turned into a fragrant cloud of freesia, lavender, and jasmine. Inside were layers of lavender and white gauze and silk with branching lines of gold. My eyes widened as I lifted out the garment and held it up, letting the small scented floral bags fall from the skirt to the floor.

Holy crap, I’d never seen a dress so beautiful. There was no way I could wear this. I’d mess it up before I even left the bedroom. “Is this for me?”

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