Page 25 of Eluvonia
I clench my teeth, plotting all the ways I’ll make him pay for this. A blade to the throat—quick, but too merciful. Poison in his wine—slow, agonizing, but impersonal. No, he deserves to feel it. To see me standing over him as the life drains from his eyes. I could break every bone in his body, strip him of his power, make him beg before I end him.
But exhaustion wins out before I can decide. My thoughts blur, my rage dulled by exhaustion pressing down on me. I close my eyes, the soft hum of his shadows lulling me against my will.
***
When I wake up, the first thing I notice is… softness. Pure, blissful, feather-like softness. My face sinks deeper into the mattress as my sluggish mind struggles to catch up. Then it clicks, and my eyes snap open.
Horror floods through me as I realize I’m still in Kaida’s bed. I push up on my elbows, my muscles stiff from the awkward position I’d fallen asleep in. Panic surges as I glance down at my wrists, expecting to see ropes biting into my skin—but they’re gone. My ankles, too, are free, the bindings mysteriously absent. My fingers brush over my skin where the ropes had been, but there’s no sign of them, not even a faint red mark.
A sharp breath escapes me, and I glance around the room like a thief caught in the act. Relief washes over me when I see it’s empty. Kaida’s not here.
Exhaling shakily, I untangle myself from the thick blankets and sit up. My limbs feel heavy, like the mattress itself has conspired to keep me there. Curse that ridiculously comfortable bed—it knocked me out before I could even think of sneaking off.
So much for having the last word.
I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and rub my face, trying to shake off the grogginess. My eyes dart to the faint tendrils of shadow clinging to the corners of the room, remnants of his presence. Even when he’s not here, it’s like he’s watching.
“Creepy lizard,” I mutter under my breath.
My gaze slides to the couch by the wall where I’d hoped to sleep last night, my plan to avoid the bed entirely foiled by Kaida and his stupid shadows. I still remember the smug look on his face when he tossed me onto the mattress like a sack of grain.
Standing, I stretch out the stiffness in my back, a quiet groan escaping my lips. My hands flex, and I can’t stop replaying the moment when his shadows had wrapped around my ankles, holding me still as he tied the ropes. The memory stokes a fire of irritation in my chest.
I shake my head, focusing on the immediate question: why did he untie me? Did he? Or did his shadows somehow undo the knots while I slept? The thought sends a shiver down my spine.
I shuffle toward the bathroom. My reflection greets me in the mirror. My hair is a chaotic mess, more untamed than usual, standing out like a wild halo around my head. With a few finger-combs, I manage to tame it into something passable.
The quiet hum of the room unsettles me. With Kaida gone,curiosity wins out. My gaze sweeps over the space, cataloging every detail. His room is annoyingly pristine—no piles of clothes, no hidden areas spilling over with secrets.
I huff, disappointed, and retreat to the open platform, hoping for something—anything—to distract me.
The ledge juts into the sky, vast and rail-less, an open invitation.
A cool breeze brushes against my face, but it doesn’t soothe me—it only reminds me how easy this could be.
One step. That’s all it would take.
I inch closer, peering over the edge. The sheer drop stretches endlessly below, a quiet promise of release. My chest tightens.
My father, my clan, my friends—they’re all waiting for me on the other side. I could be with them again. No more pain. No more loneliness.
Just one step.
The ground tilts beneath me, and my knees weaken. The world blurs, and for a fleeting moment, I think—maybe this is it. Maybe I was never meant to survive this long.
No. Not like this. I won’t forfeit my life because of the Dragons—I will have my revenge.
Before I can move away from the ledge, a strong hand clamps around the back of my neck, yanking me backward with enough force to rip the air from my lungs.
“Do you have a death wish, Fae?” Kaida’s voice booms, sharp and biting. His fingers release me, and I stumble, falling to the floor. My pulse pounds as I stare up at him, wide-eyed.
He looms over me, his massive frame casting a shadow. Arms crossed and lips pulled into a sneer, his eyes blaze with irritation—and, annoyingly, faint amusement. His foot tapsagainst the ground, a steady beat of exasperation.
“Well?” he snaps, cocking a brow. “What’s with your obsession with free falling to your doom?”
Heat floods my face as I scramble to my feet, “I don’t have a death wish,” I snap, voice shaking more than I’d like. “I got dizzy, that’s all.”Liar.
Kaida tilts his head, studying me with a faint smirk. “Dizzy? Don’t tell me you’re afraid of heights.”
