Page 16 of Slaying the Shadow Prince
4
Talemir
Talemir Starling became one with the darkness. Every ounce of power he’d been trying to suppress broke free in a violent undoing, shooting through his veins, shadows bursting from his very being. Talons punched through his fingernails, the pain momentarily blinding him while wings speared from the tapered muscles of his back in equal agony and he bit down a roar. Night and rage coiled deep within, tightening around his bones, threatening to snap and forge themselves anew with gloom and despair.
Shadows rippled from him like smoke, taking the form of whatever nightmares haunted the young woman before him, swirling everywhere, taunting her. She had a trembling dagger to his throat, but it didn’t matter. The magic within him was so great that one thought from him could see that blade flying in the opposite direction, at the mercy of his shadows.
He commanded a roiling black mass of power. Ribbons of onyx magic unfurled from him, wrapping around her wrists and easily removing her from his body. Despite the fire in her blue eyes, she seemed suddenly fragile to him, breakable under all that he could wreak upon the realm.
Somewhere within himself, he clawed at the darkness. She’d baited him and he’d fallen for it, let his emotions get the better of him, let his power fester in that bleak recess of his mind until it had become too much, until his true self had broken free. He should have known better. He’d quickly learnt that heightened emotions meant he was more susceptible to losing control… and until now, he’d managed to maintain control. Except for the darkest night of every month – that was when there was no stopping becoming the monster. Then, the darkness called to him and he had no choice but to answer.
Panting, he caught his reflection in her eyes. For the first time, he saw the beast for what it truly was – terrifying, primal and snarling… Uncontrollable. Part man, but just as much, if not more, wraith. His membranous wings flared between his shoulder blades; his talons made marks in the wall, and whips of shadow poured from him like blood from a wound, roiling around them, threatening to snuff out the fire.
But there was something else, he realised as he leant back and surveyed the woman who was flame incarnate… On the other occasions when he’d been in this form, the world had looked different, sapped of life, of colour, drenched in blacks and greys that mirrored the darkness of his own heart. But now…
Drue Emmerson stood before him, soaked in colour, full of life.
Shock rippling through him, his form flickered, his talons retracting, his wings disappearing. Slowly, the shadows retreated, and he stared at her.
Her breasts heaved as she caught her breath. He was braced over her, his knee planted between her thighs, her hands still in place where his power had held them to the wall. Their bodies were almost flush, close enough that he noticed her thick lashes, the flush across her high cheekbones as she gazed up at him. And her panting… That was no longer from fear, but desire. He felt it too, felt it heating his blood in an entirely unfamiliar way. But Talemir Starling steeled himself.
‘A clever trick,’ he said quietly. ‘That’s twice now you’ve tried to kill me when I’ve meant you no harm. Next time I won‘t be so forgiving.’
Hiding his trembling hands, he stepped back from her and waited. He wouldn’t let her know just how unnerving the experience had been for him, wouldn’t let her know that in a world made black and white, she had been doused in colour.
Drue gaped at him. ‘How is this possible?’ she breathed at last. ‘How can you still…’
‘Be me?’ he finished for her, plucking his shirt from the bed and tugging it on, hoping that it would hang low enough to cover the bulge of his cock as it strained against the rough fabric of the towel.
‘Yes.’
‘Believe it or not, I’m still figuring that out.’ Talemir sighed, rubbing the nape of his neck, trying to erase the blaze of pain that had ripped through him upon the change. He busied himself with finding his pants and, with his back to Drue, dropped his towel and stepped into them. She’d seen every inch of his front – why not give her a glimpse at the muscled curve of his backside while he was at it?
The sound of her quiet intake of breath was his reward.
Fully clothed now, he turned to face her. ‘Decent,’ he announced.
‘You’re the most indecent person I’ve ever met,’ she retorted.
‘Why, thank you.’ At least she’d called him a person. He took up a place by the fire, stoking it with the poker. ‘Now, why don’t you tell me what you’ve been doing to the steel source? Our blades are having less effect against the monsters. They’re increasing in numbers. Darkness is spreading – we can see it from Thezmarr.’
Drue crossed her arms over her chest. ‘And you think this has something to do with me?’
‘Yes. Show me the cuff.’
‘No.’ She shoved her hands behind her back. ‘You think I’d let you anywhere near this thing? You’ll destroy it.’
Talemir sighed. He would not take it by force. Not yet, anyway.
‘Who told you about it?’ she asked.
‘My guess is that you already know who.’
‘Coltan.’
Talemir nodded. ‘Your lover was adamant that you were breaking the laws of Thezmarr and that you put yourself and others at risk.’
‘He’s not my lover.’
