Page 23 of Claimed By Shadow and Blood
“Were you aware of any others involved?”
He moistened his lips again. “Th—there are several, based on what they said. I overheard some conversations. They said Vyraetos was a fool and would lead the Shadow Kingdom to its doom, but his disappearance would be too suspicious. And they said Briar was…a death trap for our people here. The Aureline Council is divided.”
Nothing new there. I crossed my arms as I stared down at him. “What reason was given for their hatred of Briar?” My shadows brandished in front of him, two turning into slick, sleek blades.
“She isn’t one of us. She isn’t fae.” He stumbled over the words. “Now, please let me go. I’m sorry for not heeding your order, but I swear I will be?—”
I jammed my hand over his mouth as I leaned closer. My fingers dug into his cheeks. “Briar is your future queen. And you betrayed her as much as you did me and my father, your king. You were a part of his assassination. So do notdareto speak of loyalty now.”
He trembled violently, and it would have been so easy to snap his neck in that breath. But there was one more thing I needed toknow. “What prison did you take her to?” I moved my hand so he could speak, though I still gripped his face.
A low panicked groan rose in his throat, and his muscles tightened. Of all the things I had asked, this was the one he most wanted to avoid. Probably because he had been bound in some way to hide it, or because he had been threatened with grave consequences if he spoke.
And that made sense.
After all, the Aurelines could not deny the visit of a ruler for whom they were conducting an investigation without good reason, and there was no good reason to deny me in this case. But they could hide the name of the prison and delay my reaching her, as Vyraetos had warned. Formal inquiries could take days.
I released his face and stepped back, then I clasped my arms behind my back and set my shadows to split and rear before him in dozens of needle-like blades that glistened as if coated in venom. “Answer me, Deln, or these shadows will enter your veins and drag the truth from you.”
“Your Highness,please—” He strained back, but the chair remained bolted to the stone even though the wood creaked under his weight.
“Answer me!” My rage flared hotter and choked me. This worm planned to withhold the location. My stomach twisted, and the power that flared through me intensified beyond what I had ever experienced. Three of the needle-like shadows plunged into him, one in each shoulder and one in the center of his chest. His body convulsed, and he screamed in agony.
My shadows sliced deeper, piercing into his veins in ways that would maximize pain without risking his life. “I am more than happy to cut the truth out of you, and my associate has already identified your partner in this crime. So you are not essential.” Two more of my shadows plunged into his chest. Ionly guided them with general will as I let my shadow magic take control. The heat of his blood was nothing compared to the ice of my shadows, the piercing precision of my magic spreading beneath his skin like liquid frost. His eyes rolled back, and saliva pooled at the corners of his mouth, mixing with the blood.
I drew the shadows back and left behind wounds that looked deceptively small. Letting him die now would be a waste—one I would enjoy but couldn’t afford. Not yet.
He gasped and sobbed through the pain. “Don’t make me answer, please!”
I struck him across the face, disgusted with his plea. He was one of the people responsible for Briar’s abduction. She was probably being tortured far worse than this, and she didn’t deserve one moment of pain or fear. “Answer. This is your last chance.” I grabbed him by the face, my claws emerging and digging into his cheeks as I swept my shadows up. Two pierced him in the chest as he screeched. Veins bulged along his neck, and he twisted back as far as he could. I let another two shadow needles lance through him, just under his ribs on either side.
The chair jolted, wood shuddering beneath his spasms, but I gave him no relief. He deserved nothing but pain, and a vicious need to hurt him more blossomed within me. If I knew what Briar was suffering, I’d make him endure the same. But as I didn’t know, I let my imagination and shadows guide me.
“Last chance,” I snarled. A single needle of a shadow curled up over his face and stopped over his eye. His pupils widened. “Firellan’s Spine!” The words tore out of his mouth as he sobbed brokenly.
My spine locked, and I almost snapped his neck.
Chapter Seven
Briar
Iscuffled back as the light intensified, carving out a perfect circle in the middle of my prison. I attempted to get away from this new threat, but my body wasn’t cooperating, and my raw hands struggled to find traction.
Still, I managed to move back several feet as the edges solidified, creating what could only be another damn portal. Where the fuck were they taking me now? I should’ve known they wouldn’t leave me alone to heal.
My wolf eased forward, her hackles raised, but then a familiar scent hit my nose—lilac, rose, lavender, and wet earth.
Could it be my many-greats-grandfather?
My chest expanded in hope, but I squashed it. He hadn’t wanted me to be taken by the fae. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but this wasn’t going to be a welcome-to-the-official-fae-family conversation.
The portal stopped expanding. I couldn’t see through to the other side. My heart pounded and then nearly stopped whenMany-Greats-Grandfather said, “You shouldn't have fought me when I tried to save you from all this.”
Despite being bloody, smelly, beaten, and weak, his attitude annoyed me so much that I managed to roll my eyes.Thatwas what he wanted to say to me? I told you so? Why bother at all? “Yeah, you sure told me. Are we done?”
“Do not take that tone with me,” he said. “You should have listened to me, but you did not. Now here you are.”
I folded my arms as a shudder cut through me. My whole body ached, and my lungs burned. He hadn’t stepped through the portal, and the flickering circle was still open but not low enough that I would be able to easily reach it. “Did you come here to gloat?”
