Page 23 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King

I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to shake the feeling off and convince myself that Elara wouldn’t have helped me if I didn’t have a chance.

As moments passed, the sound of my footsteps grew louder, echoing back to me like a constant reminder that I was walking towards my death. We passed more windows, the light slanting in to stain the marble floor with flickering patterns of black and gold. It looked like spilled blood, and my stomach churned, my pulse a drumbeat, fast and unsteady.

As we neared the end, my breath grew shallow and my heart drummed even harder, like the drummer boy before the fighters attacked.

We reached the massive doors and my throat tightened. This could be the last time I saw these halls. My wolf snarled, disliking me giving up. But I couldn’t brush away the sense of impending doom that pressed against my body, causing my knees to weaken.

Then Elara opened the doors…and I stumbled back.

ChapterEight

Briar

Something sparked my tattoo, causing it to warm and flutter its wings faster. Even more alarming, all the women stood in the center of the logo in the hall I’d arrived in, staring at the balcony above Elara’s and my heads.

With how quiet the ladies were—even Kaylen—a chill ran down my back. For these women to stand at attention, the trial must have already started.

Elara seemed unaffected as she stepped into the vast chamber. Her long braid trailed behind her like a shadowy banner. I swallowed the bile rising in my throat and forced myself to move forward, not wanting to be left behind… again.

My wolf inched forward, growling as if she could sense something was off in this room too. We searched for threats on the outskirts of the room, and most definitely kept an eye on Bitch Kaylen and her punkass minions.

I moved to the outer ring of the logo where I could watch for someone attempting to stab me in the back. Then I felt a tug and looked up at the balcony.

My heart stopped beating the moment I sawhimagain. He wore an all-black royal-looking outfit, this time with a golden belt and golden cuffs on his shoulders. His eyes appeared black as they met mine, and his chest heaved at the same time.

Great. Now I wanted to vomit just from him looking at me. My heart felt as if it were going to shatter, but I straightened my spine. How he felt about me wasn’t relevant. I needed to survive long enough to find a way home. He didn’t matter.

“Is that the woman who’s been making a mockery of this trial?” A man with salt-and-pepper hair stood beside Vaddy, a dark golden crown atop his head. He stared down his nose at me and grimaced.

Kaylen chuckled loud enough for me to hear, and the urge to pull her hair took over. I flinched, realizing I wanted to have an actual girl-fight instead of ripping her throat out. What the hell was wrong with me?

“My king.” Elara bowed her head before glancing over her shoulder at me. Then dark tendrils of magic floated her onto the balcony. “She was not the only one in last night's...altercation. She has come from Earth. Should we not give her time to acclimate to life here? To our ways and customs? In her land, it would seem this was an act of frivolity.” She took the spot in between the king and Silus.

“I am told she was the instigator, and got all the others involved as well.” The king placed his hands on his golden belt. “I am simply—”

“Your Majesty.” Vad’s deep voice vibrated through my body. “Perhaps we should address this after the trial. I already addressed the embarrassing display with the ladies last night.”

The king nodded, though the scowl on his face somehow deepened.

On the other side of Vad, Thalen grinned and raised his middle finger at me.

What the hell? He was flipping me off in front of everyone? Maybe the time he’d spent with me last night was just for shits and giggles. Probably he, Silus, and Vaddy had had an entire night of making fun of me.

Why should I expect anything different? This was my own personal hell before I died anyway.

A flutter of long white hair caught my eye, and Aelir appeared at my side, her emerald-green eyes glistening. “I can’t do this,” she whispered. “I can’t. They hate us.”

Reassuring words lodged in my throat, preventing me from saying them. I didn’t know if anyone could smell the stench of lies here like supernaturals could on Earth, but I didn’t want to take the chance or give false hope.

“Now let the ceremony begin.” The king puffed out his chest as men in robes walked in front of the five of them, blocking them from our view.

Oxygen couldn’t fill my lungs, because once again, I had to be living in another nightmare—all seven of the new arrivals looked like reapers.

They were like statues, as cold and still as the rest of the room. Four wore dark gray robes, and three had lighter gray attire and stood between each of the darker ones. Their presence cast a more chilling shadow across the already stark space.

One of the dark gray hooded figures stepped to the edge of the balcony. Only his thin, wrinkled hands were visible beneath the long sleeves, while his face remained hidden under the shadow of his hood. “I am Vyraetos, Ascender of the Shadow Kingdom and head of the Shadow Council.” His voice echoed through the chamber like the tolling of a distant bell. “Today marks the first trial of the bridal challenge. Fate has decreed this will be the test of ruthlessness.”

A few soft gasps echoed around the hall, and for some reason, it made me want to laugh. I didn’t understand how they could be surprised by that. Elara had informed us last night at dinner.

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