Page 8 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King

My voice sounded stronger than I felt.

The women shot looks at one another, their expressions of astonishment quickly returning to sneers.

"I've never seen anything like it." The blonde fluttered her wings. "A human dressed as... What was it you called it again?"

I lifted my chin. "Pajamas."

"Disgraceful." She recoiled. “You chose to wear…thatto meet the prince you are supposed to impress? How will you fight for his devotion when you show such blatant disrespect?”

The concern on some of their faces morphed into delight, like they were enjoying the show. A girl with pastel-blue hair whispered something to her friend. Their eyes sparkled like they knew something I didn't.

For some reason, my wolf ears weren't working as well here. "You're gonna hurt your necks if you keep staring like that." A faint gust of cool wind flew around me, lifting my hair.

"You don’t deserve to be here.” The blonde woman’s chest heaved, and her wings cupped her sides.

I swallowed a lump as my pulse pounded. I was scared as hell, and they knew it. I had to try harder. "Don’t worry too much about me. I don't even want to be here."

The woman drew back, shock flitting across her perfect face, then she narrowed her eyes and gave me a glare cold enough to make the rest of the room seem warm. "What did you say?"

"I don't want to be here," I repeated, louder. “Did you hear it this time, or do I need to speak louder for those in the back and on the balcony?”

Some of the others muttered behind their hands. "Did you hear her?"

"Unbelievable."

"It sounds like she's rejecting—"

The woman with wings straightened and pointed a long finger at me. "Kneel and apologize." Her voice was sharp enough to draw blood. "If you know what is good for you."

Was she out of her mind? Did she really think I'd cave just because she'd ordered me to? "What are you gonna do if I don't? I'm just a peasant, right? You should be thrilled. One less competitor for you." My face grew hot from anger and embarrassment, but I stood tall. "And here I thought I was the only one taking things seriously."

More whispers spread through the crowd, some amused, others uncertain.

"You will do it now, if you value your life." The winged woman had raised her voice to a commanding pitch.

I felt like a cornered rabbit, but I'd be damned if I let her know that. I crossed my arms. "And if I don’t? Are you gonna make me?"

"You should be honored to stand among us." Her face flushed, somehow only adding to her beauty. “Even if only for mere minutes.”

The mean one stalked toward me, her eyes alight with anger. I had no idea how far she’d go, but my wolf urged me to stay strong, refuse to back down.

"Why don't we let her live, Kaylen?" A woman with dark-violet hair tilted her head. "It'll be more fun for us."

"No," the feathered one snapped, the word resounding off the stone walls. "We won't have time for her once the initiation begins." She took another step. "She will kneel. And she will apologize."

Kaylen. That seemed fitting for a bitch. I raised my eyebrows. "I think you need to learn a lesson about humility."

Some gasped. Others laughed.

"You have no idea of what you speak. Iwillteach you respect," Kaylen sneered.

I took a step back, knocking into one of the guards behind me. My wolf demanded that I push through the cold tendrils of fear choking me. I needed to hit her where it hurt, which was clearly her appearance. "I bet I know more than you think. Besides, you should watch out—you’ll get wrinkles if you keep sneering like that."

Her eyes darkened to a stormy silver, and a vile smile crept across her lips. She lifted her hands, moving her long fingers as if she were orchestrating some deadly dance.

The wind that had been blowing faintly around me picked up.

The bitch was using magic!

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