Page 126 of A Kingdom of Shadows

He nods. "Then we will take each day as it comes. We will build our strengths, and if anyone tries us, we will fight, and I will watch you win against those who dare wrong you."

I stare at him, my gaze full of devotion. He has always thought of me as a fighter.

Wetting my lips, I breathe out a laugh. "My biggest fan."

He smiles. "Always have been."

One of the guards calls out Darius's name, likely wondering where he is as raindrops sliding down the tent's roof soften into almost nothing.

"You should go see what they want," I whisper, and he sighs as neither of us wants to part.

"Or I could stay here."

"Darius."

He laughs, drops his forehead against mine, and runs his thumb across my chin. I savor his touch and closeness before it's gone as he starts to walk out of the tent.

I watch crestfallen, until he stops a few steps past the threshold. I don't have time to think or say anything as he turns and strides up to me, cupping my face in his hands and slamming his lips on mine.

He hauls me up against him, lifting me from the ground as I swing my arms around his neck. His tongue is in my mouth, urgent and so profound I gasp between breaths.

It's a kiss where we both fear losing each other.

I'm still trying to recover when he places me back down. My eyes are closed, my mouth half open, and once again, he lets go and leaves.

I press two fingers against my lips, already missing him, as my eyes flicker open and the fire goes out.

Chapter Forty-Eight

A day and a half later, we had finally made progress.

Aeron mentioned we were close to the Thalorian border. And careful enough not to stumble across trolls, I had wanted to believe we were on the safe side of things, but that is a foolish thought I'd brushed away.

Nothing is ever safe, nor should I think too quickly before an outcome.

"Steady," Aeron says, his palm raised before his boots slam onto the squelching mud. Branches and colossal trees with decayed leaves dominate the forest. It is nothing like the woodlands near Olcar. It reeks of feces and a certain darkness I do not want to tempt.

It is almost too much like the Screaming Forests.

I slide off my mare, waltzing toward Darius with cautious steps. There's a crack of a branch echoing in the air, and my heart jolts for a moment before seeing it was only a bird taking flight.

"We need to keep Arlayna safe." I lean into Darius.

He looks at me, raises a brow, and crosses his arms over his chest as he glances past his shoulder. "I doubt that she would like us doing so."

I peer behind me, seeing how Arlayna is already off her horse. Her bow is aimed at the ground, and her arrow is nocked as she glares at the forest.

Suppressing a smile, I turn my attention to Darius when a draft of grumbling air travels toward us. It lifts the leaves off the ground and blows my hair back. Everyone is unsheathing their weapons as Tibith waddles to my side and wraps his arms around my calf.

"What is it?" I whisper, even though Darius won't have the slightest clue either.

"Shadow Calps," Aeron answers, looking at us.

I almost swear. "What—"

"Your Highness, get down!" A guard yells, and I swivel in time as Arlayna tumbles to the ground, and a dark humanoid creature made of branches for limbs comes spiraling out through the dark. Tendrils of shadows surround it as it tries to go for Arlayna, but Aeron runs to her, slashing his sword across the Calp's body.

The forest turns into mayhem. Horses bray, scattering away as Shadow Calps come from every direction, creating a vortex of shadows to trap us.

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