Page 58 of Claimed By Shadow and Blood
“Briar,” Elara said sharply, as if she knew what was going on in my head.
Suddenly, the door slammed open, and Silus slid in. Sweat beaded his brow and clung to his normally immaculate dark hair. He straightened his charcoal black surcoat and the dark-blue ascot tucked into his tunic.
The guards snapped to attention, Crossbow Guard swinging the weapon from me to Silus. Rope Guard reached for his sword, but neither moved away from the wall.
“Princess.” Silus’s gaze locked on Elara, and his eyes widened. “What are you doing here?” His jaw worked like there was another question he wanted to ask instead.
The air seemed to thicken, and I dug my fingers into the rope to give myself something to hold on to. Tension radiated between the two of them, all but shimmering in the air as neither looked away.
I didn’t know Silus well. Every time I’d seen him, he’d been so serious and had seemed more of a stick in the mud than even Vad had at first.
His gaze traveled over Elara while his right hand fisted and curled against his trousers, as if he wanted to touch her and was holding himself in check. Tears shone in his dark eyes, and he stepped forward. “You’re needed back at the palace.”
She lifted her chin. “It’s fine.”
“Then we should take leave, Your Highness.” He turned to me and flinched before schooling his expression. “If you’re done speaking to the personaccusedof killing the king?"
My head jerked back a little. He’d called me the accused, not the killer. That didn’t sound like the Silus I knew.
Elara turned to me, her gaze piercing through the dim light of the small chamber.
Following suit, Silus studied me in a cold, detached manner.
“I suppose there isn’t much more to say.” Elara sighed. “Growing up, I always wanted a little sister. I imagined I’d tell her to be brave, and to cherish the knowledge that her family and friends would stop at nothing to keep her safe. That’s how family works, after all. And there is no fury like the fury that comes when someone takes one of our family from us. There would be no peace until the matter was resolved. I would tell her to keep her wings straight and her chin up and remember who she is and who she belongs to.” She raised one hand as her voice shook. “I’d hoped that you would be that for me, but Fate always has her plan.”
Something inside my chest had twisted when she’d saidlittle sister, each word a blade with the edge turned inward. In such a short time, I’d come to care for Elara. I’d gotten a friendly vibe from with her as soon as I’d arrived in Nytheria.
Her lips trembled. “But you arenotmy sister, and I was wrong about you from the start.”
That blast of sulfur was the most welcome, disgusting scent I’d ever smelled. I shook my head as tears sprang to my eyes, burning and spilling over. My lips parted, but no sound cameout. What could I possibly say to that? To any of this? “I hope you get a little sister like that someday.” Even if it wound up not being me.
Her lips had parted as if she was about to speak again when the earth jolted.
The guards exchanged panicked glances as dust began to filter down from the ceiling. Silus ripped off his cloak and lunged at Elara. He swept the cloak around and lifted her into his arms as if she weighed nothing, while the walls groaned and the floor jumped beneath my feet.
A dull roar sounded. On the table, the oil lamp rattled and slid to the edge. I dove forward and caught it with my bound hands before it could shatter.
Then all hell broke loose.
Chapter Seventeen
Vad
Asour taste filled my mouth, and I forced myself to meet Rhielle’s gaze. Everything in me rebelled against the truth in her words, and I wished I could tell her everything. “For the time being, I must play nice with everyone.” I inclined my head, though my shoulders weighed heavy from this fecking game I had to play. “But eventually all games end, and all bills come due.”
“Make sure to bill Kaylen her share then,” Rhielle muttered. Her fingers curled over the blanket, her nails digging into the fabric as if it were Kaylen’s throat.
I forced a small smile that probably didn’t reach my eyes. “I hope your recovery progresses swiftly. Whatever you need, please inform the physicians and their attendants.”
She huffed and lifted her chin. “I need to get out of here. Physician Karu said I’ll be out of danger by tonight, but it’ll be a day or two longer before I’m back to full strength.”
“I’m afraid time is still required for healing.” With that, I exited to the hall, closing the door behind me. I tucked my wingsin tighter so that they didn’t brush the walls in passing. There was one other person I wished to speak to in the Healing Hall.
As I entered the main area hall, I spotted Chief Physician Morlo speaking with a younger red-haired attendant. For as long as I had been alive, Morlo had overseen my family’s health. His posture was a little more rounded now in the shoulders, and his blonde hair was less gold and more silver, and a little less shiny. He still wore it slicked back and fastened low against the nape of his neck, his appearance, as always, immaculate. He gestured to the nervous attendant in a calm manner, likely offering some form of correction, based on how he pointed to different vials of herbs and powders on the slim shelf beside him.
Once the attendant scurried away past the pillars, he turned toward me.
A small yet sad smile tugged at his narrow mouth. “Your Highness.” He stopped in front of me, his hands folded before himself. “Helfir mentioned you were with Rhielle, but I did not wish to intrude. I want to offer my personal condolences and sympathy in the matter of your father.” He bowed his head so low his chin pressed against the collar of his green robe. Today, in addition to the black iridescent staff in a circle embroidered on his lapel, he wore a pin that depicted a sleeping shadow beast resting beside a smaller one, his head pressed protectively over hers. Both were encircled with black roses. Morlo had chosen to honor my mother as well as my father, the pin representing them both.
