Page 70 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King

With that thought, I scanned the crowd once more, searching for my sister. There. Across the room, clasping a glass of indigo moon wine in both black-gloved hands, secreted away in the shadows. Her face shone with happiness, her shoulders hunched as if she could scarcely bear the sight from sheer delight. Silus loomed near her, his expression stoic with hints of concern. He still couldn’t see just how good Briar was. Or perhaps he feared what she represented. Regardless, he’d just have to deal with it. We would address the matter soon enough.

Thalen, for his part, did not seem to have any opinion on this whole situation. He was standing near Myantha. Another dark-haired fae came alongside and reached for her arm, and Thalen grabbed that fae’s wrist and said something with a smile sharp enough to cut glass.

I smirked. Turnabout would be fair play soon enough.

My gaze returned to Briar then stilled. Heat flared down my spine and through my wings. My father was guiding her to me through the dance. I took half a step forward, breath catching in my throat. He asked her something, and I thought I caught the sound of my name. But she stared up at him with eyes as wide as if he had told her he was going to turn into a pumpkin in three minutes.

She didn’t answer, but a broad smile broke over his face.

The first I’d seen in years.

I firmed my jaw, my fingers and wings twitching. Then he looked at me and motioned for me to come closer, holding Briar’s right hand in his, his thumb pressed to her palm. “Your mother would have loved her, Vad.” The smile remained on his face as he drew her closer to me. “And I love her too. Sometimes, it really doesn’t take long to determine this sort of thing. Please. Enjoy the rest of the ball. I will handle the remaining tasks.”

“Are you certain?” More than anything, I wanted to sweep Briar away and have her all to myself. But I didn’t want to abandon my father. He hadn’t stayed at a social event for more than an hour in years. As much as this meant to me, I couldn’t leave without checking once more.

He nodded, chuckling wryly. “Yes. Go. I’ll send for you if I need you.” He then placed her hand in mine and looked at her. “You are a remarkable young woman, Briar. May your heart always burn bright for those who cannot fight for themselves. You remind me so much of Valora.” His voice broke a little as he said my mother's name; then he pressed her toward me.

I could scarcely believe that had happened, and then Briar was in my arms. I found myself pulling her close without even thinking about it. It was natural—the way it should be. The heat from her body reached mine, and the jolting warmth of her touch returned. My heart soared to hold her. Her right hand went to my shoulder, her left to my upturned palm. My wings tensed, and I held up my hand to signal the orchestra that it was time to transition to the song I’d chosen just for her. With that, I swept her into the center of the dance floor.

The lights, magical and soft, played over us, brightening her face, shining in her hair, and shimmering over the gold branches woven into her dress. Her hair came alive with hints of gold and ruby, wheat and strawberry, and her eyes glowed jade green with flecks of emerald, jet, and malachite. She followed my lead with seamless grace, her skirts rustling softly with each step and her heels clicking on the floor.

“I am honored to share the third dance with you,” I said.

Her brow wrinkled, and confusion danced on her face like the lights upon us both. “Well, first, this is the second dance, not the third.”

“Shush now.” I gave her a mock scowl. “You have both the second and third. The third dance is the most honored dance, and this song is ‘The Midnight Vow Beneath the Veil.’” The obsidian harp notes and pan flute both reminded me of her.

“Is it?” She lifted an eyebrow in a sharp arch, her eyes flashing. “You did dance with Kaylen first. Are you acting like I can’t count how many dances there’ve been? Are you dancing with me now because you got your father’s approval?”

A smile broke across my face. What an infuriating and beautiful woman she was. That spark of jealousy in her eyes delighted me. “The first dance is simply to begin. The focus is not on the dance itself. It’s a light pleasant encounter that summons the guests to the ballroom. The second dance is a little more important, and it’s often the sign to finish drinks and food and prepare for the main event. And that is the third dance, especially if the prince signals through his choice of music that it does in fact mean something more. So far as my father, I had no idea he would be attending. His approval of you means a great deal to me, but I had already set my resolve before the music started.” I paused, curling her close to me, my hand splaying over the small of her back. “Will you join me in the observatory, Briar? There’s something important I need to ask you.”

She scrunched up her adorable nose at me, then frowned as we continued to dance. My heart clenched, waiting for her answer.

ChapterTwenty-Three

Vad

It felt like an eternity passed as I waited for her answer. A part of me had wanted her to say yes without thought, but I should’ve known better. Briar thought things through, unless someone’s life was in danger. Even then, she still strategized, changing her moves as needed.

She nibbled on her bottom lip and then softly answered, “Yes.”

She’d taken five seconds at most, but her hesitation alarmed me. I couldn’t blame her, not really. I’d given her no real reason to want to say yes. Not yet, but that would soon change. I had to bare my heart to her.

Still, I didn’t want to pressure her, but I desperately needed to talk to her. “Are you certain?”

“I am.” She straightened more.

I led her away quickly, before she could change her mind. I needed a chance to explain.

We hurried off the dance floor, up the curving staircase to the landing, and into the main hall. The power this strange woman held over me might have been alarming if I hadn’t given myself over to her so fully.

As the soft notes of the music faded, I led her to the royal family’s private quarters and to my observatory. Her fingers curled tight over my hand, warming my blood.

Occasionally, she looked up at me with those green eyes. Did I see curiosity in them, or was it fear? No, surely not fear. Not when she had been so bold and courageous in the trials.

The familiar scent and the comforting silence of the observatory folded around us as I closed the door. The stars shone bright through the glass dome on the far side of the room. The tugging in my chest intensified, urging me to kiss her and stake my claim on her forever. But I had to take this slowly. Or at least as slowly as I could bear. And I had to give her a choice. It was the least I could do after the nightmare Fate and the councils had put her through.

Drawing in a deep breath, I steadied myself. Then I crossed over to the telescope and gestured to it. The cold metal grazed my fingertips. “I never knew my grandfather, but he adored the night skies, and he tracked the stars. It was something special he shared with my mother, and she, in turn, shared it with me. It was always a reminder that out there existed beauty and life and order beyond our understanding, and who knew what else?”

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