Page 7 of Claimed By Shadow and Blood
Finbar offered another nod, though his expression remained masked,
I wasn’t fully certain I could trust him or anyone I didn’t already know well.
Despite his stoic expression, his slate blue eyes darkened, letting me know that this was hitting him almost as hard as me. "If you require my life, I accept your judgment. If you allow me to keep it, I will dedicate it to finding all involved in this atrocity and bring them to the blades of justice and Fate."
It was an old tradition that, if the king was murdered, the captain of the guard would be executed for failing to protectthe king. However, the tradition was useless when it came to practical purposes. Maybe I couldn’t fully trust him, but making a change now would only add more chaos.
I met his gaze, unblinking, and studied his face. "Your life is mine. To my knowledge, you have done nothing that prevents you from continuing to serve. Demanding your life at this time would accomplish nothing."
Stepping closer to him, I stretched my wings, ensuring they were on display for all to see. I wouldn’t lower my voice—everyone needed to hear this—but I arranged myself so that the councilman and Thalen could see my expression. "What happened tonight is a violation of all we hold dear and a horror that will stain our kingdom’s existence for eternity. All those involved with the enactment of these travesties will suffer a thousand times over. Their names will be blotted from any honorable mention, and they will be made into objects of scorn and derision. None will escape my rage or the horrors I will inflict upon them.”
My heart wanted to lurch from my chest, but I took a heavy breath. Going on an immediate killing spree would only aid them in proving I was unfit to lead. I’d do this smartly and let them sweat, unsure of when I might strike.
I turned and saw my father’s body once more. A spasm shuddered through me, and my chest tightened so hard I couldn’t draw a full breath. For a moment, I felt like a child again, weak, small, and incapable of changing even one thing for the better.
It was worse than when I lost my mother. Then, despite my father’s grief, he had ruled. He’d overseen the investigation and tracked down her murderers. Though he never felt that he had learned the full truth behind her death, he had exposed several people who had been unquestionably guilty of conspiring to kill her.
Not so long ago, I’d called him a failure for becoming distant from Elara and me, for withdrawing from most public matters in the kingdom, and for letting his life revolve around Mother's death. I hadn't understood the full weight of what he carried… until now.
I wished I could take those words back. He had lost the love of his life and had two constant reminders of her memory—Elara and me.
Now my goals were to find whoever was behind this and avenge my father, and to rule with Briar by my side for all eternity. To do that, I had to locate people who had information on this conspiracy and torture, if not murder them. The only thing holding me together was that I would get Briar back one way or the other. She needed me to free her from whatever horrific prison they’d taken her to and to avenge her for whatever cruelties they’d set upon her, and I craved her body and presence. No one would ever keep us apart again…not even Fate herself.
“Your Highness, are you well?” Finbar asked, bringing me back to the present.
I lifted my chin. “Yes, why?”
“I sent for Sekondel the hexwright to examine the guest hall and all the guards, to ensure that this does not happen again, unless you have someone else you would like to have serve in that role?"
Sekondel was a decent woman. Faithful in her duties and skilled in magic of all sorts. I had perhaps missed more of what he had said. "Is there a reason she would be seen as unfit for such a task?"
"No, Your Highness."
I drew in a steadying breath. "Then she will do. If anything, send for a second hexwright to offer another perspective. Perhaps Haude or Sterenn." I raised my hand before anyonecould ask me anything else. “Give me a moment to pay my last respects to my father before his burial.”
Everyone nodded, and even the council members stepped back. Only Thalen remained at my side, motionless.
I strode on weak legs to the lifeless husk that was my father and knelt beside him. The cold marble bit into my knees, and the congealing blood soaked into the fabric. That smell of fading life, metallic blood, and sweet lilies swirled around me, tethering me here when I wanted to vanish and track down Briar.
Thalen knelt beside me, his head down. His shaggy, silver-white hair hung over his face.
I reached out and closed my father’s eyes. Already, his flesh was cooler than it should be, all traces of heat fleeing as life already had. I prayed there was some measure of mercy that allowed him to now be with my mother. He'd never stopped loving her.
Apparently, he hadn't stopped loving me either.
Not that that would have kept him from criticizing me now. I could hear his voice in my mind.Why are you wasting time over my corpse? It's for the worms now. Head up. Shoulders back. Spine straight. Now. Handle this. Don’t shame me.
I lifted my head, and the world spun to the point I wasn’t sure I could get to my feet. But staying here and shaming my father’s legacy wasn’t an option.
I had to rise to convey strength, authority, and calm, despite what had happened. But my legs still felt like jelly.
Panic sank its claws into my chest. My beloved had been taken from me. My father had been murdered. How long before they moved against Elara and my friends? Or me? If I did not make the right choices, my kingdom would collapse, and our magic would fail. I couldn’t act rashly.
Spiraling would accomplish nothing. I had to focus on getting Briar back first and foremost. That would eliminate allthe other problems, and it was what my heart wanted most.Hold fast, my love. Hold fast, and know I'm coming for you.
A sour taste filled my mouth. I had to play this game.
But when I set my hand against the stone to help myself rise, I noticed something odd.
