Page 3 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King

When Ryker took his last bite of cake, he leaned back and looked at my sister with adoration. He beamed. “I love being included in your family recipe. I’ll admit it’s a little sweet, but watching you eat it made it my favorite dessert ever.”

My heart squeezed a little. I hoped that I would find a love like that one day—a fated mate— but my sister wasn’t typical. She was gorgeous, strong, and fiercely loyal. I paled in comparison to her. My hair was a lighter copper, my skin a little paler, and I had freckles, which wasn’t typical of wolf shifters. The only thing I had that my sister didn’t were deep jade-green eyes where hers were a soft, welcoming color.

“I’m glad you liked it.” Ember smiled tightly. Then she glanced in my direction, searching for my hand.

That was my cue to get the hell out of here. The conversation was about to turn back to me.

I yawned loudly, not bothering to hold back. "I'm exhausted." Luckily, it wasn’t a lie, because after eating a full meal I was struggling to keep my eyes open. I stood and collected the plates. "Mind if I turn in early?"

Ember frowned. "But we haven't talked about—"

"Tomorrow, please." I steepled my hands. "My brain can't process anything else tonight."

Ember's expression softened, lowering her palms to the table. "I get it. Fae magic—it takes a lot out of you." She reached for my hand, her fingers gentle against my wrist. "Just promise we'll talk first thing tomorrow."

Ryker's disapproving glare burned into me, his jaw tight with unspoken frustration. Before he could open his mouth to object, I pressed a quick kiss to my sister's cheek.

"Promise. Love you." I slipped past her with the plates, hurrying to the kitchen.

I rinsed the dishes with trembling hands as the mark pulsed with each beat of my racing heart. Not bothering to load them properly into the dishwasher, I abandoned them on the sink and fled upstairs, taking the steps two at a time.

In my room, I locked the door, and the exhaustion of the day sank into my bones. I quickly changed into my favorite pajama set, a tank top and flannel pants depicting Stitch sleeping, then crawled between my black sheets.

I snuggled deeper, willing sleep to take me away from the worries plaguing my mind, but my mark pulsed with an eerie fire-like glow as the butterfly flapped its wings.

After I didn’t know how long, my eyelids finally grew heavy. Moonlight filtered through the dark purple curtains, casting eerie shadows across my room. Just as consciousness began to slip away, someone materialized over me.

The scent of lilac, roses, and wet soil filled the air. I sat up, ready to fight, when I realized who the man was. It was my Many-Greats-Grandfather, the fae. I’d seen him only once previously, and he’d done the same thing then—appeared in my room with no warning. “What is up with you and popping into family members’ bedrooms uninvited?”

His long, dark auburn hair was wilder than the last time I’d seen him, and his golden-brown skin seemed a shade lighter. “As much as I wish our first words weren’t curt, I need to take you somewhere now.” His liquid-gold eyes flicked toward the corner of the room, and my vision caught on one of his pointed ears.

“I’m not going anywhere without Ember.” There was no way I was going to leave. He might be family, but I didn’t know him.

He waved a hand and created some type of portal. "We don't have time for this. You're being hunted. If they find out you're part fae, you'll die." He grabbed my arm and tugged at me to go with him, and my wolf surged forward, lending me the strength to yank out of his grasp. He fell back into his own portal, his eyes wide in what look liked horror.

The portal vanished, leaving me alone on my bed. My heart pounded against my ribs as I stared at the empty space where my fae ancestor had disappeared.

Something was very wrong, and I needed help.

Ember! Ryker!I linked frantically, pushing all my fear into the mental connection.I need you!

I jumped to my feet and had just lunged toward the bedroom door when two massive figures materialized on either side of me. Their appearance was so sudden I had no time to react before their hands clamped around my upper arms like iron vises.

I couldn't see their faces because of their helmets, and they wore black body armor that covered them entirely. If that wasn't terrifying enough, huge sets of leathery black wings protruded from their backs.

"No," I screamed, thrashing against their grip, but this time it was useless.Two winged men are in my bedroom!

I heard Ember and Ryker running up the stairs. I had to buy time so the two of them could get here.

I tried to take in any sort of detail that would be telling. Through their helmet eyeholes, I caught glimpses of inhuman eyes—one pair midnight blue, the other a molten amber. My legs gave out.

"Let mego," I snarled, digging my heels into the plush carpet as I tried to wrench myself free. "You have no right to take me anywhere!"

The one on the right with midnight-blue eyes tightened his grip. "We cannot release you. Fate herself has chosen you. The mark on your hand proves it."

"You should be honored," the amber-eyed one added, his voice melodic yet chilling. "Many would sacrifice everything for such an opportunity."

A strange tingling sensation began at my feet and spread upward through my body like thousands of tiny needles pricking my skin. The air around us shimmered, warping and bending, as if reality itself was melting away. I thrashed harder against their iron grip, my wolf howling in panic beneath my skin.

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