Page 17 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King

Aelir took my hand in a sticky mess of purple and white frosting, layers of delicate dessert, and raw emotion, a symbol of the mess we’d made and the one I had to clean up if I was going to make it.

"Join us," I said, just as defiant as I’d been since they’d dragged me here.

ChapterSix

Vad

Ibraced my hands against my belt and blinked several times as I took in the chaos that was the guest banquet hall. I struggled to understand what I was seeing, especially through the sweet and tart scents assaulting my nostrils.

This had to be a hallucination. No one would be this…uncouth.

But no. Each time I opened my eyes, I saw the exact same catastrophe in front of me.

What in the scaffing void had happened here? Not one of the contestants had escaped the carnage of creams, jams, sauces, and mash. A few even had pastries clinging to their clothes or in their hair. One honey-brown-haired woman held a chocolate croissant to her lips as if she was ready to take a bite.

Some of the weight that had been pressing on my shoulders lessened. At least it wasn’t blood smeared across the walls with limbs of Briar’s body scattered across the seats and table. Kaylen would have happily gutted her like the river trout served at dinner.

Had Briar turned the intended attack into a—a food fight? The very thought was preposterous but at the same time...clever.

Briar stood in the center of the guest dining hall, staring right at me. Her hands were piled with blackberry cloud trifle, ready to fling.

My chest tugged at the sight.

Her light copper hair was matted with night cordial, blackberry cloud trifle, and some sort of sticky white powdered confection that was half dissolving on her neck in all shades of blue and purple. Her strange garb had been soaked and stained as well, little blue droplets pattering from the top’s hemline onto the plush purple rug below.

Most of the other women hadn’t fared much better, but many had the decency to at least look ashamed—as they should! But not Briar. If anything, she stood taller.

This was not conduct becoming of women in their position. Yet the sheer ludicrousness of it all—Briar standing there, knowing they wanted to kill her, and her weapon of choice had been…pastries and trifles?

I shifted my weight, forcing my features to tighten. She had to understand actions like these wouldn’t be tolerated. For the love of Fate, were manners and decorum not the same on Earth? How did those barbarians live?

A faint tremor passed over her expression, but she didn’t turn away. She didn’t even have the sense to blush or mumble an apology, or attempt a bow or curtsy.

“Having fun?” I demanded, taking in every detail. This was ridiculous. And…funny. A smile fought to curve my lips, but I pressed them together firmly.

I needed this handled, and to get away from her. My legs yearned to close the distance between us. I needed her to heed my warning, and even better, offer an apology—

“Yes.” The white-haired Sylvan Fae beside her reached out, and they joined hands. More fluffy cream and sugar dripped from their arms.

Heat coiled in me. My spine tightened, and my wings itched. A part of me wanted to lick some of the food from the corner of her mouth and grin.

Feck. The thought was so tempting. Pressure built in my chest, and a laugh lodged in my throat.

No. I couldn’t laugh. These weren’t the actions of a queen, and I feared laughter would encourage her to continue with her antics.

Eyes firmly on mine, she lifted her chin in challenge. “Join us.”

She was feisty, and everything a queen shouldn’t be. Yet…also endearing.

I pressed my tongue to the roof of my mouth, willing the laughter down. I couldn’t afford to not look kingly.

Thalen and Silus came in as well, their footsteps heavy on the marble floor.

Thalen’s mouth opened as he took in the culinary carnage. His gaze fell on Briar, and he grinned. “I knew we shouldn't have skipped dinner. Looks like the blueberry briar patch is proving quite interesting!"

Silus folded his arms, surveying the feasting hall. "Blackberry, not blueberry, my friend. Details matter."

Elara’s soft footsteps announced her arrival, followed by a short gasp of amusement that she masked with a sharp cough.

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