Page 16 of Claimed By Shadow and Blood
A shimmering light flashed through my shut eyes, so much that I cracked my eyelids and winced. A bright circle of blue-white started small and slowly widened, like water spreading in a pool. The light pulsed and expanded, swirling into a circular pattern that grew more defined with each passing second.
"What the—" I eased back, wondering what sort of new hell they were bringing upon me.
Chapter Five
Vad
Rage exploded within me, and grief for the loss of Father and Briar stung painfully. My chest threatened to implode.
One of my hands remained on the door, and my wings trembled with tension as they remained flared behind me. I scanned the observatory’s black marble walls and the wooden shelves lining them to see if any of the books, charts, parchment rolls, crystals, and skulls were out of place. The gold-framed telescope was still in the center of the generously sized room, the table next to it still holding my crystals, lenses for stargazing, and notes. The two black couches in one corner of the room were vacant. The only thing out of place was the three Shadow Council members standing before me in full dark gray robes.
If they wanted a fight, I'd give them one. But I had to let them play their hand so I wouldn’t come across as irrational and give them justification for deposing me.
My shadow magic flared, not wanting to be contained, fanning the flames of my rage even higher. I pictured Briar’sface, reminding myself that I was doing this forher.I had to pretend to stay in line and seem willing to hear what they had to say...for now.
Vyraetos pressed his hands together. “With all due respect, Your Highness, this is a matter that would be best handled in private.” He bowed his head and gestured toward the still-open door.
Despite my concerns, curiosity got the best of me. I closed the door. The lock clicked into place, and I had to remind myself I couldn’t be in too much imminent danger here. My observatory had multiple spells and sigils woven into it for my protection and the protection of those I loved, and it was one of the worst places for an ambush.
My shadows itched for blood and violence, and my wings pulsed. If Vyraetos and these other two fragile council members wanted to test my strength, I would happily show them my might and deal with the corpses later.
I strode to them. The heavy woven hoods hid their faces, and the two council members standing behind Vyraetos kept their hands folded before themselves but tucked into their sleeves, hiding any tattoos or scars that might identify them.
I didn’t have time for games or wasting time, so I commanded, “Speak.”
Vyraetos lowered his hood. His gray hair was disheveled as if he had dressed in haste. The dark circles beneath his gray eyes spoke to many sleepless nights, and he looked even more ancient than he had the last time I’d seen him. “First, we extend our deepest sympathies for the loss of your noble father. He was a good man and a good leader, and though the Shadow Council did not always see eye to eye with him, he still held our respect.”
My chest tightened with greater fervor, shortening my breaths and hollowing me out.Thiswas why I’d beendetermined to not love anyone else. It weakened me, and I despised that feeling above all others.
I gave Vyraetos a curt nod. “Such statements hardly require that you invade my personal sanctum at this hour and without notice.”
“It is not the only reason for our presence here or this subterfuge.” Vyraetos kept his gaze locked with mine. Though his gray eyes were clouded from his age and exposure to harsh elements, there was a sharpness in them that reminded me of an ancient guardian owl. “Times have become dire, Your Highness. Your father did not pass his power or the crown to you before his death, and the magic of our kingdom is more unstable and tenuous than ever, especially given our tensions with the Aureline Council. We need to strengthen and stabilize what remains of the bond so that you can endure until the crowning of your queen.”
My gaze narrowed in on him, and I stepped closer. “What tensions? Speak plainly.” The Shadow Council’s duty was to the kingdom as a whole, not to my family and line, but my father had trusted Vyraetos, and Vyraetos had shown more discretion and wisdom during the bridal competition than I had expected. I remembered that he had warned the others that Kaylen was not likely to be a good ruler because she lacked discretion in her ruthlessness. But that didn’t mean he would support my choosing Briar over Rhielle, who was the general favorite among the Shadow Council.
Vyraetos exchanged a glance with the hooded councilor on his left and then the one on his right. He motioned toward their hoods, and they both pulled back the heavy fabric, revealing council members Laro and Melnani. Melnani was a little taller than Laro, with an aquiline nose, hollow cheeks, and silver hair so pale it was almost white. She wore it slicked flat to her scalp and braided down her back. Laro was thicker, and his left cheekwas a latticework of scars with a shadow beast tattoo darkening the right side of his jaw and throat. His steel gray hair was cut short except for a section in the back long enough to form a single braid down the back. His violet eyes had narrow pupils that were more snakelike than fae, unlike Melnani, whose eyes were so dark it was impossible to tell where pupil ended and iris began.
Both bowed their heads.
Inclining his head toward me, Vyraetos dropped his arms and gestured again to Laro and Melnani. “You may speak freely in front of my two associates. There are others within the Shadow Council whom I trust only in most matters, but these two I trust implicitly. This conversation must remain entirely secret. I suspect you will want to tell your own inner circle, but do so only if you are certain it will not spread beyond them.
“Our situation is perilous. As I mentioned, tensions between our council and the Aureline have worsened, and there is a new faction within the Aurelines that has split them. This situation is not the first conflict we have had with them, but it is building up to be the worst. The two councils must work together to conduct these competitions, and we rely on the Aureline Council to interpret Fate’s will in selecting the trials and the order.” He canted his head as he made this point. “We have concluded that there are some within the Aureline who are planning a coup. The assassination of your father has at least temporarily eliminated Briar from the competition, and the attack on Rhielle has also at least temporarily eliminated her.”
I gritted my teeth as my heart ached all the more. “Briar didnotkill my father.” I watched him for any trace of a reaction.
“No, she did not,” Vyraetos said it as plainly as if stating water was red and the night was dark.
Laro and Melnani both nodded as if they were one.
“If she were to continue through the trials, Fate would not strike her down; of that I am certain.” Vyraetos pressed his lips together. “This wasn’t simply an assassination. It was a warning. It is apparent from the most basic of assessments that there are multiple individuals involved in this scheme. They are signaling what they are capable of, and they are maneuvering their chosen bride into position. They will urge us to resume the bridal competition tomorrow, and then to have the wedding as soon as one wins, to ensure that the magic of the Shadow Kingdom does not become untethered.
“Kaylen is the Aureline Council’s favorite, though they are not unanimous. However, if the magic of our kingdom is seen to be at stake and Rhielle remains unconscious, then many members of the Shadow Council may be persuaded to vote for Kaylen. Despite being uncertain that Kaylen is directly involved, we think it likely, and if the power of this kingdom is seen to be weakening, then far more will support her than will trust you.”
My mouth dried, and my hands fisted. Of course Kaylen was involved in all this. She was ruthless and vile, and they had confirmed my worst fears.
I gritted out, “I will delay the competition and the wedding. There is no way that fecking woman will become my queen.” Though I could not recall all the formalities, I would have only one queen, and I had chosen. Even if Briar had never existed, I wouldn’t have accepted Kaylen.
“You are permitted to delay the trials within reason.” Though Vyraetos said this calmly, there was an edge to his voice that advised caution. “But if enough of the Shadow Council become concerned about the stability of our kingdom's magic, then they may move to depose you for either instability or weakness. The three of us would certainly oppose that, but we are not enough. The weakening of the magic itself would easily convince any arbiter asked to settle the dispute that action must be taken."
