Page 88 of Slaying the Shadow Prince
‘It’s alright,’ she told him.
He shook his head in disbelief. ‘How is it that in a world leached of colour, I see you brighter than the sun?’
‘What do you mean?’
Talemir’s whole body heaved, flickering between the two forms again. ‘When I am… this,’ he said slowly. ‘I see the world around me in black and grey… There is no colour, only shades of darkness. But you…’
Drue closed the little remaining space between them. ‘Tell me.’
Talemir reached for her, but recoiled at the sight of the black talons protruding from his fingertips.
Drue took a breath, covering those claws with her hand. ‘Tell me,’ she said again.
Talemir’s dark gaze met hers. ‘You are a spectrum of colour in the shadows. You pull me back towards the light…’
Words failed her.
For a second, Drue’s heart seized, stopping mid-beat before it started to pound without mercy. Her skin tingled all over and her knees threatened to buckle as she realised she had been living in darkness too, and that Talemir had —
Slowly, his wraith form faded.
The talons beneath her grasp dematerialised, her hand now meeting ordinary, smooth, clipped fingernails. A cool gust of wind kissed her face as the great wings at his back vanished, causing him to keel forward, the sudden lack of weight interfering with his balance.
Drue caught him, steadied him.
The strips of his ruined shirt fell from his shoulders, leaving his golden torso bare beneath the stars.
Hazel eyes met hers, intense and piercing.
Last, the ribbons of shadow departed, vanishing into the night like wisps of smoke in the breeze.
As they did, the world around them roared to life once more. The music from the warehouse below drifted up to them, the laughter and the revelry too.
Talemir looked down at where they clung to each other.
‘We could be dancing,’ he whispered.
Drue followed his gaze, unwilling to let him go. ‘I thought you didn’t dance…’
The Warsword placed his hand on her waist and clasped his fingers around hers, drawing her to him, his body flush with hers as he guided her into a slow waltz. ‘There are many things I don’t do that I would gladly do for you,’ he murmured.
He steered her into a turn and they fell in time with the melody that flowed from the warehouse windows below. Even so large, Talemir was graceful and sturdy, finding the rhythm easily and holding her close.
As much as Drue missed the ballroom melodies and the sweep of her feet across a dancefloor, there was something she wanted more. For the first time since Talemir’s transformation, she looked around the rooftop. There were several stacks of pallets scattered all over, and barrels – of what she didn’t know. In one of the far corners, a guard had clearly been stationed, for a torch burned low and a pile of furs told her they’d abandoned their post in a hurry.
‘I can think of better things to do than dance right now,’ she whispered.
He paused, his whole body tensing around her.
‘Talemir,’ she said. ‘There will be no moment more perfect than this one.’
The warrior loosed a tight breath. ‘You’re sure?’
‘Yes.’
As soon as she uttered the word, he pressed his lips to hers in a searing kiss.
Every wall, every barrier between them fell away as Talemir held her and kissed her deeply, his mouth warm and lush and teasing. He tasted like juniper berries and Drue’s blood heated in response. Desperate to touch him, she traced his bare chest, his tapered back and the breadth of his shoulders, wanting to memorise every inch of him with her hands.
