Page 108 of Claimed By Shadow and Blood
Strange fire burned through me, heating my entire body as the world seemed to churn around me.
The man carrying me paused and grunted. “Check to make sure it’s going to the right place. He’ll kill us if we send her to the wrong realm.” His grip loosened as he adjusted the arm over my thighs.
As his grip loosened, I flexed my abdominal muscles and slipped forward just enough. My fingers wrapped around the hiltof the dagger before he noticed, and I yanked it up and jammed the blade into his lower back.
He roared and jerked. I slid off his shoulder, keeping the dagger in hand, and hit the ground hard on my side, the iridescent folds of the wedding gown tangling around my legs. He crouched next to me, face twisted, and I shoved the dagger into him again—this time under his ribs. He crashed forward as I twisted away and ripped out the blade. Blood poured onto the marble, seeping into the cracks and pooling around the corpse.
I rolled out of the way, panting, the dagger still in my grip. My head was pounding, but I forced myself to stand up.
The second man stared, his hazel eyes wide with shock. He lifted his sword. “How in the void are you even standing?”
I bared my teeth at him as fiery rage poured through my veins. “You tried to take me fromhim!”
“You don’t—” The man’s eyes bugged out, and several small silver lines hissed through the air and into his chest, slicing clean through him. He pitched forward face first into the pool of his own blood with a sickening squelch.
I spun around, dagger lifted, ready to attack.
And stopped short.
Thalen?
He stood beneath the raw stone opening of the corridor. “What’re you thinking, Chaos? Taking all the fun for yourself?” Hetsked and furrowed his brow in a mock pretense of annoyance.
“Thalen!” I staggered forward and hugged him. “I’m so glad to see you!”
“As you should be, Chaos. I’m pretty happy to see you too.” He hugged me fiercely, the strength of his grip belying his casual teasing tone.
He pulled back, his hands on my shoulders. “We don’t have time to chitchat. If you still want to marry Vad, we’ve got to getyou back to the Ceremonial Hall.” He guided me back through the raw stone archway and back into the rough-hewn corridor. “I’m assuming this wasn’t a consensual passage through the portal?” He launched into a run.
“No!” I ran alongside him. Heated energy surged through me, burning through whatever it was Many-Greats had done to me. Multiple paths branched off from the one we ran along, and our footsteps thundered and echoed off the stone walls and low ceiling. “Many-Greats kidnapped me!” He’d warned me never to reveal our relationship, but fuck that. He’d given up his right to any secrets. Now wasn’t the time to talk about it though.
“Not sure who in the void that is, but feck him.” Thalen pointed to a turn ahead and gripped my arm. “Vad’s about to go out of his head. If you wanted to go home, he said he’d understand, but he wants you to be his queen, even if you do go back to Earth. He’s never going to have another. Between you and me, I think he’s about half a thread short of snapping and wrecking the whole coronation and wedding.”
My chest warmed. That was possibly one of the sweetest things I’d ever heard. He was as crazy for me as I was for him. I might have laughed if it weren’t for the intense energy surging through me and the deep, pressing need to get to him. Panic worked inside me, along with a rage that didn’t quite feel like my own. It twisted in my stomach and pounded in my skull. “Can we portal there?”
“Not until we’re past the sigils and spells,” he said grimly. “No one’s supposed to be down here—period. It was sealed off and enchanted. We won’t be able to portal at all until we’re past the first seal. Keep your eyes peeled in case there’s anyone else down here. The air smells too fresh. We might have company.”
My body tensed. I needed to get to Vad, not fight more enemies.
Rage poured through me, vibrating in my veins as I stared at the wretched abomination who dared to stand in my bride’s place.
“You arenotmy bride!” I roared. My shadows exploded out as my fangs lengthened and my claws emerged. My wings flared out, striking the air and joining with my shadows. I cast a furious look over the shocked and terrified assembly.
Good. They should fear me. If I couldn't have Briar, then I’d wreck this all to the void and kill anyone who tried to replace my beloved.
I gestured, refusing to look at Kaylen again. "Thatvileandselfishcreature is not my bride. She won none of the trials, and she is not Fate’s choice, but most of all, she is notmychoice. Get that fecking wench out of my sight!”
Kaylen fell back, paling. The iridescent blue gown seemed dark against her pallor. “I-I was chosen,” she said, her hand lifting to her collarbone. A bright flush appeared on her cheeks and collarbone as she drew back.
“Get out!” I bellowed, slashing my arm out. My shadows lashed, some striking the railing and others knocking down the flowers that hung at intervals. The sweet scent of roses and lilies intensified. I craved Briar’s scent, my lungs filling with the desperate need to smell that warm cinnamon ginger.
Everyone fell deathly silent, staring with lined faces of worry, mouths open with shock, and expressions frozen in terror.
Blood dripped down the sides of my face. “You are not worthy of the crown. You are not worthy of my family. You are not worthy to be queen,” I snarled, stepping toward her.
Kaylen drew back, silver eyes shining with fear. “But?—”
I cut her off with a vicious sweep of my hand. “Even if the council did, I didnotchoose you!” I advanced another step, my shadows writhing around me like living serpents. "You think you can steal what belongs to another? You think you can take her place? You think you want me? Will you want me when my shadows rip you to pieces and pour out your lifeblood on the seal of the Shadow Kingdom?"
