Page 142 of The Shadow Fae Rhapsody
The girl swivels her head to the hate-fueled shadow at the last second. She stares at it with eyes more radiant than the stars.
The curse’s vile form pauses like a standing cobra—no, it does not pause.
Nel has stopped it.
She glares at the Rhunhraefn and seeds of light burst from the shadows. They dance around the darkness like vines, crushing it to her will. The fortitude in her expression is terrifying.
“Touch him again and you’ll burn,” she warns the Rhunhraefn with eyes of silver flames. There is nothing elven or mortal in her essence as she uses the blinding radiance to seal the curse.
I understand now that it was this otherworldly light that saved me from the dagger’s curse last night in the tent. Even in her sleep, when she was most vulnerable, Rhianelle was still trying to help me.
I exhale slowly, battling the wave of sorrow that constricts my throat.
My knees cave in at the glorious sight. Her strength humbles me.
Now it’s time for her to face the final monster.
Me.
The dagger in my chest is inches away from my beating heart. I wait for her to end me.
Instead of finishing me, Rhianelle withdraws her blade.
What?
I howl my pain into the chasm, willing my body to shift back into a mortal form.
Rhianelle softly lands her feet on the ground as Wendy’s form gradually shrinks. I keep both knees on the ground, gazing up at the divine being in front of me. I’m ready for this goddess to punish me for everything that I have done.
Except I’m no longer staring at the icy gaze of a cold deity. My mate is staring back at me.
My soft Nel.
Every nerve in me becomes numb and paralyzed at the heartbreak in her eyes. I can’t speak. I can’t blink. I can’t breathe.
A terrible silence follows the wake of my madness until I hear someone say, “Take him away.”
Despite the order, not one elf dares to approach me. Eventually, Eyepatch and Tall One move to my side.
The last thing I see before I am dragged away is that fractured look on her face.
Chapter 25 Svenn
Tall One is silent as he leads me to the slammer. The guy manages to find a cloak large enough to cover my battered body. Stench of the rotting dead fills my nostrils on our trail. The bandits didn’t bother pulling down their comrades I’d nailed to the wall days ago. Vultures and crows will have a feast tonight with the fresh additions from today.
The knight takes me to a temporary holding cell instead of the dreadful underground dungeon.
“Darstan,” I call out to him. My voice is a cold, emotionless void. An exact representation of how I feel inside.
He turns, fully facing me with his eyebrows raised.
“Tell my wife—Rhianelle I need to see her. Please.” I have never begged in my long existence. But I don’t mind getting on my fucking knees if it means I get to see her again.
The knight merely nods before leaving me in the prison. He doesn’t bother locking me in.
I slump down on the hard granite floor. The wounds over my body are beginning to heal. I wish they will not. Not after what I did to her.
Last night, I thought I was going to be the one to give her the key to this fortress. I was going to make her smile.
