Page 64 of Claimed By Shadow and Blood
I ignored him and gestured toward a small alcove farther down the hall, where we could speak without being easily overheard but where we would not be closed off either. My shadows curled around my ankles, itching and prickling along my flesh to ensure I knew they weren’t happy about this arrangement either.
The other women retreated slowly, Quen practically having to be dragged off by Thalira. Myantha lingered longest, her gaze fixed on Thalen until Yuki pulled her away. Thalen must have winked at her again or mouthed something at her, because her blush intensified yet again. Her foot caught on the door jamb, and she tripped, pitching forward in a flurry of pink and lavender striped skirts.
Thalen surged forward to catch her, stooping down to grasp her hands with one and wrapping his other arm around her waist as he lifted her easily. He whispered something to her, and she shook her head, her eyes averted.
Kaylen cleared her throat. “I am at your service, Your Highness,” she said from behind me in the alcove. “What can I do for you? We can return to my room if that would be helpful.”
A biting retort rose to my lips, but I swallowed it down and fought back a gag. “You have stood out in many respects, Kaylen, and you have caught a great deal of attention. This finalchallenge will assuredly be difficult, and I wondered if I might have a lock of your hair.”
Kaylen's eyes widened with delight, her lips parting in a smile that made my skin crawl. She pressed her hands together. "My hair?" She reached up to touch her white-blonde tresses. "You wish for a lock of my hair?"
I forced false warmth into my voice. "It would be... meaningful to me."
Her cheeks reddened, and she stepped closer—too close. I could smell her scent now, something like oversweet sugar lilies and honeysuckle. "I would be honored," she whispered, her eyes gleaming.
I drew the dagger from the sheath at my side. The ornate black hilt caught the light as I held it up between us. "May I?"
She nodded, practically vibrating with excitement. "Please." She turned her head to present the pale cascade of her hair. "Take all you desire."
I reached up, selecting a small section of hair on the back of her head. As I positioned the dagger, I deliberately caught my bracer in the strands above where I intended to cut. With a swift flick of my blade, I cut a lock, then I moved my wrist back with several other strands of blonde hair tangled in the bracer.
Kaylen let out a sharp yelp of surprise and pain, her hands flying up to her head.
"Oh dear.” I gave my wrist another tug without even trying to untangle the hair. “It’s stuck.”
“Agh!” She glared at me and then blanked her expression. “Stop moving!” Catching herself, she swallowed hard. “Please, Your Highness. Let me fix it.”
“Just a moment.” A few strands had already been pulled from her scalp, but I gave another small tug as I batted her hands away. Kaylen grimaced and grunted as if she’d bitten back a curse.
“Oh no, let me help!” A melodic voice called out, and suddenly another pair of hands reached up to help untangle Kaylen’s hair. The woman’s delicate fingers worked swiftly as she pressed more of the hair into my hand to ease the tension. “Here. Hold this carefully, and I’ll help you untangle.”
I glanced down, seeing a woman with wavy blonde hair in a feathery pink dress with darker pink wings tucked against her back. She was another bridal candidate, an Ignis fae, though I didn’t recall seeing her ever using her fire magic except for the heat blast to move stones in the fight against the crabs and leeches in the collapsing labyrinth. Her name had had something to do with flowers. Lilian…no, Calla Lily.
She chewed on her lower lip as she worked to untangle Kaylen’s hair, and Kaylen whimpered. “There we are.” Calla Lily darted back as soon as Kaylen was free, her steps light and silent on the marble.
Kaylen sniffed.
Quickly glancing at the strands of hair with the root along with the larger lock, I drew my hand back. Then I removed a handkerchief from inside my surcoat. “Are you all right? That must have been quite painful.”
Blinking rapidly, she straightened her shoulders. “It’s perfectly all right. No attention you could pay me would be unpleasant.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
I should’ve felt guilt for harming a woman, but I couldn’t feel any remorse. I had no doubt Kaylen was part of framing Briar. I wrapped the hairs along with the lock in my handkerchief and tucked them away.
Kaylen lingered, her gaze fixed upon me as she rubbed her head.
Playing this damnable game meant I couldn’t snap at her, so I indicated one of the guards at the end of the hall. “One more thing, Kaylen. Do you see that guard right there at theintersection of the halls before the Guest Banquet Hall? I want you to go to that guard and have him take you to a private room with one of my scribes and tell the scribe everything you remember about last night. Tell him it is my order, and it is to be strictly confidential.”
“You don’t want me to go to Captain Finbar?” She collected herself and resumed her poised stance, hands folded over her gown.
“Your report will be special. It’s for my eyes only.”
A frown creased her brow, but she took a few tentative steps out of the alcove and into the hall, then glanced back at me.
I gestured toward the guard once more, and she turned to oblige. Hopefully, that would keep her occupied.
Thalen was still fussing over Myantha, holding one of her hands in his as he leaned close. She was hanging on his every word. I cleared my throat loudly, and Thalen’s focus snapped to me as a guilty look stole over his face. Before I could say anything, something light tapped my back.
I spun around to find Calla Lily still there. She placed a hand on my arm, her fingers curling over my wrist.
