Page 5 of Claimed By Shadow and Blood
I most certainly could not loseher.
Bile rose in the back of my throat, and the world spun. The once vibrant red water in the fountain had turned murky pink. My father…was gone, and our magic would weaken unless it became fully vested in me. We were vulnerable. My chest tightened so hard I couldn’t catch a breath.
Loss poured through me and hollowed me out. He’d been murdered, and whoever was behind this had set up Briar to take the blame. That was the only reasonable explanation—because Iknewher, and she would never do this to him or me. How many people were part of this conspiracy?
Someone wanted to destroy my family and legacy. They'd put our entire kingdom at risk! I took a ragged breath and commanded, “Get out of my way.”
Another sharper sob ripped my attention back to Briar. Our eyes locked, and the pain and terror in her glassy green irises cut through me deeper than a blade. The two guards held her tightly, the one on the left curling his hand and summoning a portal. Dark and light gray wisps swirled around them.
I shoved through the council members, but the gray had already swallowed her. Two guards in light gray armor suddenly appeared and grabbed my arms like the guards had done to Briar.
“Release me this instant. I need to talk to Briar right now!” My demand turned into a scream. My shadow powers flared, and my wings shot out. My magic faltered before surging in sputters. The strange surges weakened my knees, but I continued to form my shadows into weapons.
Crackling energy curled from my fingernails and turned into dark claws ready to rip them apart. I’d tear them all to pieces and hang their corpses on the outer walls for defying me.
Two more guards surged forward, and the Aureline guard lifted his hand. Moonlight flashed over something in his palm. Red seared my vision, and stinging pain flashed over my face.
Aureline magic.
Bitterness coated my tongue, and my strength cracked as the power sapped me beyond that single blow.
My knees and hands struck the marble pathway, but I refused to stay in a weakened position, so I thrust myself to my feet. One of the guards struck me back down.
The Aureline council member leaned down. His light-blue eyes blazed as he said, "Remember your place."
Remember my place.Feck that. He needed to remember his.
I refused to allow some council that wasn’t of my kingdom to punish me. The Aureline Councilmembers were only to get involved if the balance in our realm were at risk. At this moment, none of that was happening. Just the horrible assassination of the Shadow King, but his heir was here and able to take the crown.
Pure rage sparked through my veins, and the pain receded to a dull ache. I slammed my hands down, shadows surging, and shoved upward, sending both guards and the council member sprawling as my shadows tore loose. My magic lashed out, jagged and wild, slicing across the guards in black arcs, cutting clean through the first guard’s chestplate. He stumbled backward, breath catching as the council member skidded across the marble. Even when he slid out of reach of my magic, he screeched like my shadows were harming him.
The other set of shadow tendrils whipped around the guard who’d struck me, plowing into the back part of his knee and making them buckle. I caught him by the arm, and he stared,wide-eyed, as I ripped off his mask and drove my fist into his face. Bone cracked beneath my knuckles; hot blood spattered across my skin, sharp and cold.
But it still wasn’t enough.
More guards hurried in with horrified expressions.
A strange clarity settled over me as I drew back my fist for another blow. No. Not now. Not yet. The Aureline fae were considered the protectors of Nytheria, their word said to echo Fate itself. If I openly opposed them, it would be seen as rebellion against Fate, and the other kingdoms might unite against me. Even if this was the only traitor among the Shadow Council, they could sway the others to declare me unfit, sever my bloodline, and seek a new heir to rule the Shadow Kingdom and safeguard its magic.
I swallowed the bitter words clawing up my throat. I couldn’t lose sight of my purpose. Briar. I had to free Briar. If I lost control or seemed unstable, I’d lose any chance of helping her.
Slowly, I straightened, wings flexing and unfurling behind me like a ragged-edged storm. The council member cowered at my feet, having slid so far on the marble that my shadows hadn’t touched him.
“My place?” My voice came out low, even, edged in chilling shadows. “I am the prince of the Shadow Fae. Heir to this throne. Son of the slain king. Rightful bearer of this kingdom’s magic.” My claws flexed at my sides, slow, deliberate. Inside, my pulse hammered, and my strength flickered. My shadows had barely reached six feet, and the restoration of their strength flagged within me in a sickening spiral. “It is my place to speak to the suspects and investigate a crime committed onmylands.”
I squared my stance as I continued. “I have allowed you to exercise your due rights in oversight of the bridal competition. But disrespect in my court will not go unanswered. Lay anotherhand or incantation on me, and I will tear it from your wrist and wear it as a trophy.”
No one moved. The air itself seemed to hold its breath. Even the torches burned quieter, shadows shrinking back as if they, too, feared me. I had to be strategic. The Aureline guard had struck me, and the Shadow council member had not even flinched. Nor had the two dark-garbed guards dragging Briar away paused when I’d demanded to be allowed to speak with her. Those Shadow guards would learn a lesson about disobeying their future king soon enough.
I shook my head, trying to clear the sluggishness away. I’d been careless and forgotten that the best way to deal with threats was the political way—the fae way.
This was why I hadn’t wanted to fall in love. The emotion tangled logic and reasoning, making people irrational and brash. It had put the people I loved in danger. But no more. I wouldn’t let these fecking bastards win...so I’d play their game for now.
Fingers curling against the marble, I breathed deep. How many Shadow fae were involved in this? That Shadow Councilmember clearly was, but that didn't mean the entire Shadow guard was corrupt. Otherwise, they'd have taken over.
Amid roiling nausea and the aching hole in my chest, my flesh prickled with warnings. I let my gaze drift over every face in the garden. “Make no mistake. I am grieving. I am furious. And I will soon be coronated.” My lips twisted into something cold, sharp. “When I am, I will remember all that happens here.” I fixed my gaze then on the Aureline Councilmember who had struggled to his feet. “See to it that justice is done, but do not make the mistake of disrespecting me again.”
I ignored my throbbing jaw and spat out a mouthful of blood. Everyone here was an enemy, but these enemies wouldn’t realize how much they’d fecked up until they felt their own lifeblood draining from their veins.
