Page 52 of Moon Raven Rising
“Next time, maybe don’t pick a fight with amoon bitchat night.” The shadows fall away at the same time I shove the dagger of light through the underside of his chin. His eyes lighting from behind with the power of the moon, then they roll into the back of his head before he drops.
When my hands fall away, so too does the magic; darkness and light are gone, leaving only me and the corpse at my feet. I look down at my trembling hands. I hadn’t even noticed I was shaking before. I’ve killed before; it was awful, and I hated doing it, but this? This felt like vengeance and glory. My heart is racing with adrenaline andpower.
Closing my eyes, I try to pull in as much air into my lungs through my nose. I hold the breath until my lungs feel as though they might pop. My lips part as I blow the cleansing breath out and open my eyes anew. This man deserved worse. I gave him kindness by making his death swift. He was the man who drugged me, pulling me from my bed and helping Soren to force dark shadows into my body, and then just now threatened to violate my body. Fae who have so little respect for another, deserve a cruel end just as the cruelness they put into the world.
“Fate gave you a kindness you did not deserve tonight,” I say to him as his eyes stare unseeing into the expanse of wintery slate gray clouds that press down on us. The watchful guardians of death, they block out all of the stars.. A dusting of snow is already starting to coat his dead body. Leaving onlyme as witness to his end. “It also gave a kindness to the realm, removing you from existence.” I step over his lifeless body and don’t look back as I continue my trek to the clearing in the woods, where hopefully a beautiful black dragon lay waiting for my arrival.
Chapter forty-one
My ears pop withthe fury that builds behind them. Just the sight of the man who walks through the door has the warmth of my fire magic radiating from my skin. Now, embracing my shadows, I let them creep through the castle to guide me to the man who stands before me now. If only I could step out of their cover.
I could end this all, here and now.
Raelle asked me to trust her. She wanted me to go back to Maki, but while I trust her completely… My thoughts of vengeance have led me back to the man who caused every moment of my anguish.
“I told you, King Phyrrohs, you have nothing to concern yourself with. It was nothing but a disturbance from some townsfolk.” He lies through his teeth, his back to the King of Valeska, as he brushes off our presence as a nuisance. Narrowing my eyes on him, I think about all the ways I wish to harm him.Repayhim for everything he has taken from me. The shadows vibrate around me, and Soren’s eyes flick up—I don’t so much as breathe as he searches the shadows, almost as though he saw me standing here.
“My dragons sense that something else is going on, and I trust their intuition more than I do your words,LordSoren.” Soren’s gaze darkens as he turns to face King Phyrrohs. It’s clear that their allegiance is thin.
“The intuition of overgrown lizards are not more than that of a King. I do hope this is not the way you conduct business with your allies,Phyrrohs. It is very unbecoming of you to accuse such a new allegiance of thwarting that friendship before you even leave my land.” Soren responds boldly. The King of Valeska keeps his stoic composure, but I take notice of the way he clenches his fists before releasing them and nods.
“The winter moon is right around the corner, Soren… You would be wise to remember that the deal is not done just yet. My word of allegiance is nothing withoutyourfollow-through. Until my boats set sail and my dragons take flight—with our prize tucked safely away—only then can you consider yourself safe from my wrath, Soren Croix. Make no mistake.” Phyrrohs stands tall as he makes the threat, keeping his eyes trained on Soren, who is teeming with hostile energy. The tension is so thick in the room that even my shadows breathe a sigh of relief when someone opens the door, interrupting the near altercation.
My mind spins as I think of everything that just transpired.His prize?
“I was told that you were looking for me.” The man from Ambriel’s vision says as he steps into the room, casually addressing King Phyrrohs and pointedly ignoring Soren. Though I don't know him, even I can admit that this alone makes me want to trust him, outside of the fact that Raelle said we could.
“Consider what I’ve said, Soren. This conversation is over for now. I need to discuss matters with my son.” He says clipped.Prince Osiris…My jaw ticks as I watch him leave with his father. The vision of him being too friendly with my wife flashing across my mind, but Soren’s movements draw my attention away from the feeling.
“Thames!” He stomps across the now-empty room. “THAMES!” He screams while proceeding to pour a measure of bourbon, tossing it back, and throwing it at the fire in the hearth. The flames surge as the bourbon burns up and glass showers the coals at the bottom, causing them to glitter like stars.
“My king?” My head whips to the side with the whimpering sound of her voice, and my face falls as I see her pushing into the room on tentative feet. Never have I seen Violet not sure of herself. She has always lived and breathed confidence.
“He’s here,” Soren says, and I stop breathing. He can't possibly know I’m here, not unless…
“Who?” Violet asks, slowly approaching him like he is an animal who may attack at any moment. My breath has yet to come from my lungs as I wait for the answer to her question.
“My son.” He sneers, saying it like it causes his pain to claim Cano. His lip curls as a show of disgust. “I locked him in the dungeons with that riddling fool. Cano will not ruin this for me. He will remain locked up until I have secured the kingdom, and even then I don’t know that he will deserve to be let out.”
“I will give you more sons. We will build your legacy.” Violet says, keeping her head down in submission—another attribute I’ve not seen from the fiery redhead before. None of this makes sense. Soren lights the dried leaves in his pipe and begins smoking and pacing while Violet stays silent, watching.
As much as I want to go string him up with my shadows, I have to trust Raelle. She knows something that I clearly don’t. I’m notwilling to risk whatever plan she has for revenge. Even with how badly I want it.
Letting my shadows keep me concealed, I make my way back the way I came, but this time, I find another exit coming out into a stone-lined hall. Arches frame one wall that looks out over the trees, and the cool, salty air flows freely through the open walkway.
Keeping myself concealed, I make my way further into the castle. I know I need to get back to Maki, but my curiosity is winning out. I want to find the King and his son to see if I can get any information from them as well. If Osiris is not as trustworthy as Raelle seems to believe, I will find out, and if I do, I will end him here and now.
“The Moon Raven?” I hear the King’s deep, rumbling voice question. “Did you know?” My eyes narrow with talk of my mate.Well, what is it, motherfucker? Did you know?
“I had my suspicions.” I hear Osiris respond as I approach the door furthest down the hall.
“Do you know what this means!?” He exclaims with excitement. A laugh follows directly behind the question. “This changes everything! You will marry her, and you will give me so many grandchildren, each one more powerful than the last. Valeska will become what it once was, and we will have control of the stones.” My body trembles with the rage that fills it. Each word he speaks causes a spike in my body temperature, and the eyes of my raven surface before I can take a deep breath and tamp it down. I can’t even focus on what he’s talking about.What stones?
“I don’t want this.” I hear Osiris speak through the war going on in my body, and I still. “You know I don’t! But still, you suggest the idea? You know how I feel about—”
“Don’t say her name.” King Phyrrohs growls, slamming something down on a hard surface. “Don’t you fucking say it, Osiris.”
“I don’t have to.Clearly, you remember.” Osiris’ fists clench at his sides, and my eyes snag on that, accompanied by the twitch in his jaw. My brows cinch, the turn in the conversation piquing my curiosity.
