Page 10 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King

In all my life, I'd never been so aware of another's body, and here I was, transfixed by a woman in such ridiculous attire. Who the feck was this female, and what was happening to me?

Below us, the white-blonde Sylvan Fae cleared her throat, forcing me into the present. Everyone had fallen silent and was watching the strange woman and me. The white-blonde fae’s nostrils flared, and her hands clenched as she glowered at me.

I steeled my expression to avoid showing even a hint of surprise. My leathery wings sliced through the air, slowing our descent until my feet brushed the marble floor.

My wings wanted to twitch in agitation, but I forced them to remain straight, despite my heart pounding against my ribs so hard I feared it might explode from my body.

What the feck had I done?

I’d stated seconds before that I wouldn’t intervene, yet when this strange woman was in peril, my body had reacted before I’d even realized it.

Now I stood in the center of the Ascension Hall with all the candidates circling us, the weight of their silence landing hard upon me.

In my haste, I had just painted a larger target on her back. I tensed even more, hating what I’d done. Falling to her death would have been more merciful than what the white-blonde fae would have in store for her.

The strange woman squirmed and pushed a palm against my chest, sending a shot of electricity through my body and into my heart. Her hair fluffed against my chin as she flopped back and wriggled. “Thanks for not letting me splatter like roadkill, but we’re on the ground now, so you don’t have to keep holding me.”

My head snapped back a little before I caught myself. Fate had to be messing with me, because I wasn’t invested in the ritual. Scowling, I released her legs and gently set her down.

As soon as she was standing, she backed away and tugged down her strange tunic with the bizarre blue creature sleeping on the front.

"You don't have wings,” I said darkly, unable to think of anything better to say but feeling like I should speak. “That doesn't bode well for you."

"Why would I have wings?" Her face scrunched up, and she lifted her head in defiance.

My heart clenched. Fae didn’t usually have health issues, but the Shadow Kingdom’s weakening magic had to be impacting me right now.

The white-blonde fae stepped forward. "Silence. Do not disrespect the Prince of the Shadow Fae."

"I am more than capable of speaking for myself." I glared at her. Inwardly I shook off the strange sensation aroused in me by the copper-haired girl. "As I said before, I don’t even care to know what any of you are called, let alone allow any of you to speak on my behalf."

Thalen leaned over the balcony railing, arms clasped behind his back. "I want to know one name. What's yours, little copperwarrior?" he called in that mocking singsong tone of his.

The copper-haired girl clearly understood his intent and balled her fists. "It's Briar, you sparkling Temu Legolas."

I shook my head and furrowed my brows. I had no clue what a Temu or a Legolas was. She must have been speaking some sort of Earth language.

Shocked murmurs spread among the other women, while the white-blonde fae pressed her hand to her throat.

Even more bewildering, Thalen just laughed and flashed his crooked smile. His voice echoed on the high ceiling. "I don't know what half those words meant, but Briar suits you, you scaffing little thornbush."

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose, then shot him a glare he would understand ordered him to be silent. He and this human couldn’t be teasing each other right now. It was so inappropriate—which shouldn’t be surprising fromher.

Her nose wrinkled. "You're a—"

"This shouldn’t be tolerated!" The white-blonde fae cut between Briar and me. Her silver eyes blazed, and her muscles tensed, her wings bristling behind her.

I wanted to put my hands on her to move her out of the way. This entire situation was intolerable, and I needed to end it now.

I snapped my hand down and curled my fingers in, summoning my power. Cold tendrils of shadow magic pooled from the center of my chest, spread into my fingertips, and flowed into the room, silencing all of the bridal candidates.

The white-blonde fae blanched and fell back a step.

Briar's eyes widened, and her hand flew to her throat. Her mouth moved, but no sound escaped her lips.

My heart twisted at her discomfort, but I pushed the sensation aside. My stance was clear, and not even Briar would change it. "I do not want to know yournames,or have any of you speak on my behalf. I am not sure how I can make my commands any clearer. I do not care about any of you. The only one who matters is the one who wins. And even then, do not expect passion or love. We’ll be fulfilling our duty to the realm."

Briar’s nose wrinkled…and I wanted to reach out and comfort her.

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