Page 16 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King (Of Fae and Wolf Trilogy #1)

Chapter Sixteen

Briar

M y heart twisted and my head spun. I wanted him to ignore my plea and not just brush my lips but devour me. The spiciness of his arousal added to his leathery scent, making me want to rub myself all over him so we smelled of each other. My wolf whimpered, edging me to push my resistance aside.

But my head still screamed stop . If he kissed me, I wouldn’t want to stop, and I couldn’t afford such a massive distraction. My goal was set—survive and get home. I couldn’t let some fae royal shadow Vaddy keep me from doing that. Besides, he wouldn’t pick me even if he wanted to. I didn’t fit in here, and the thought of watching him with another… Tears stung my eyes.

No. I couldn’t keep going down that thought process. He wasn’t mine and never would be. I needed to get away and not put myself in a situation where, if I survived, I left broken-hearted.

He let out a long sigh, his cool alcohol-soaked breath hitting my face. He mumbled, “You’re right. This isn’t wise for either of us.”

The words stabbed my heart, but I couldn’t fault him for them. He clearly believed the same thing I did.

He took a step back, and the jolts from his body touching mine diminished to a faint buzz. I clenched my hands, wanting to pull him back against me.

“You should leave before I change my mind.” He lowered his head.

I wasn’t sure if it was from shame, embarrassment, or something else. But the reason didn’t matter. I needed to get back to my room before I did yet another thing that put me in a worse position.

“Are you able to find your room?” I didn’t want to leave him drunk and without someone to tend to him.

“Don’t worry. I have no doubt someone will join me soon.” He winced.

My back straightened. Did he mean another bridal candidate? “I see.” A huge part of me regretted stopping him. I wanted his company to see us together. At least my scent would be on him.

This was further evidence that I needed to stay the hell away from him. “Well, I’m going to leave now.” I spun on my heels, not wanting to break down in front of him. I hoped like hell I didn’t pass his visitor on my way to my room.

I marched to the door and threw it open, accidentally slamming it against the wall.

“Briar, are you all right?” Vad asked with concern.

Yeah. We were not doing this. I was acting insane, and staying would only let my psycho self out more. “Just peachy. Night.” And I marched out the door.

Footsteps came toward me, and my mouth soured. I didn’t want anyone to see me. I tugged on my wolf to help me move faster and hear better as I sprinted down the reverse path Thalen and I had taken, just wanting to get back to my room.

The hairs on the back of my neck wouldn’t settle. That feeling of being watched slid over my skin like slime, thin and crawling.

The footsteps faded, and there were no sounds of someone flying. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

This whole day had been a disaster. I needed to go to “my” room and process everything. I was now so paranoid that I thought I was being watched when no one was around.

The only sounds now were my own footsteps brushing against the smooth stone and the whisper of my skirt skimming the floor. But the sense of that ominous presence stayed, coiling tighter with every step.

Ugh. I couldn’t shake it. I quickened my pace, then slowed to see if I could detect anything.

A set of footsteps thudded.

There it was. The sound was too soft for a servant, but too steady for coincidence. My stomach clenched, and my wolf huffed, like she was saying told you so .

I picked up speed, and the footsteps synced. Fear clawed my chest.

Twice more I changed my pace—fast, then slow, then fast again.

So did they.

Panic surged under my skin, thick and stifling. I broke into a run, the dress catching around my legs as I rounded the corner fast enough to damn near slam into one of the black-armored guards stationed by the archway.

The guard turned toward me, his creepy ass eyes the only thing I could see.

“Someone’s following me,” I said, my breathing jagged and loud. My chest burned, my lungs dragging in air that didn’t feel like enough.

Two of the black armored guards stepped forward, hands gripping their swords as they moved to investigate. I didn’t stay to see if they found anyone. I didn’t care. I just ran the rest of the way to my room.

My feet skidded as I threw myself through the doorway. I slammed the door shut and shoved the heavy end table back in place, the legs scraping across the floor. Rubbing my hands together to try to release some of my anxiety, I surveyed the room slowly. Soft lamplight cast the room in a gentle golden glow, and I searched the darker corners for a sign that someone was there while tugging on my wolf senses.

My heart slowed as I realized I was alone. I dropped onto the bed with a huge exhale, the warmth of safety wrapping around me and my fear retreating.

I curled inward, arms wrapping tight around my body as everything the fear had held at bay crashed over me. Aelir’s face flashed in my mind—her wide green eyes, the way her voice trembled when she’d whispered that she didn’t want to die. Kaylen had taken her life from her like it didn’t matter, like she was just a bug to be squashed in the path of Kaylen’s plans.

I wished I'd been faster. Maybe I could have stopped that fucking bitch.

And Ember—Fate, Ember —was still on Earth, probably wondering if I’d vanished or died or just walked away. I missed her so much it physically hurt. Like something had been torn out of my chest and left raw. My only comfort was the faint warmth of my pack links.

My fingers curled over the spot until my wolf let out a broken whine, mourning with me.

Then the moment with Vad came to me. He seemed drawn to me the way I was to him, though we could never work out. My lips tingled where his had brushed them. And I hated that I’d stopped him, because if a brush felt that amazing, I could only imagine what a real kiss would be like.

I could smell his scent on me, and I sobbed until my nose became so stuffy so I couldn’t breathe.

I couldn’t allow him to ruin me.

At some point, without meaning to, I fell asleep.

* * *

The soft click of the door woke me, followed by the scraping groans of the servants pushing the nightstand out of the way once more.

I sat up fast, hands balled, ready for a fight. When I saw the three servants squeeze through the opening, I relaxed.

They carried a breakfast tray and a jade dress, moving with that same eerie coordination they had before.

I stood numbly and took the dress from the one servant while the other two set out breakfast on the small table.

The moment I lifted the dress, I paused. I’d known it was a dress, but I hadn’t expected this .

It was beautiful, perfect for a Renaissance fair, but I couldn't imagine fighting in it. It had several layers and long sheer sleeves that would fall past my wrists. A vine design had been embossed across the bodice, and it had to weigh at least fifteen pounds. It was heavier than anything I’d ever worn before, and made of sturdy fabric.

“Let us help, miss,” the closest servant murmured.

I wanted to protest, but I wasn’t sure I could figure out how to put this thing on with all the layers. I removed my nightgown and stepped into the new dress. Cool and deft fingers laced the back and adjusted the skirts so they fell correctly.

As soon as they were done, they took a step back.

Even though I loved the color, I didn’t want to look in the mirror. I already didn’t know who I was becoming, and the last thing I needed was to see a person I didn’t recognize staring back at me.

I ran my hands down my stomach, and my thumb got stuck in a hole. I sighed bitterly. Of course, I would manage to destroy the dress before I even made it outside my room.

I glanced down to see the damage...and the corners of my mouth tipped upward.

This dress had pockets!

A servant kneeled and slipped thin black leather shoes onto my bare feet.

When all the servants stepped back, I spun around with my hands in my pockets. Who’d known such a little thing could make me so happy?

My joy was cut short by the gurgling of my stomach. Intense hunger pains shot through me, reminding me that I hadn’t taken the time to eat dinner before my emotional burnout last night.

Knowing I needed strength and energy, I grabbed a piece of bread with apple strawberry jam and devoured it. The sweet and fruity taste reminded me of the treats Ember and I baked back home. As I picked up a second piece, one of the servants handed me the red tea that the physicians had given us last night. Needing any additional healing I could get, I guzzled the hot tea, enjoying the contrast of the nutty herbal flavor with the sweets. I ate the second piece of bread in two huge bites.

The servants stared at the floor, and I became eager to get away from them. “Ascension Hall?”

The middle servant nodded.

I hurried out of my room, passing by guards. Two of them flanked me as I walked toward my next personal hell.

A tingle of awareness shot through me once more, and I glanced over my shoulder. Neither of the guards seemed alarmed, and, of course, I came up with nothing.

Staring forward, I yanked on my wolf. She seemed restless but not as alarmed as last night.

The black and gold halls seemed less endless. My shoulders tensed. I hoped I wasn’t getting used to being here, because I didn’t like what that meant. I didn’t want to get used to anything in this world. I needed to win—survive—and get the hell back to Ember.

As I stepped into the Ascension Hall, my gut did that same uncomfortable flip as the first time I’d been here, though now it was for different reasons. My allies were clustered to the right in one corner of the room, away from Kaylen and her mean girl posse. A couple other women stood awkwardly at the back of the hall as if unsure where to go. All of us were dressed in similar styles and all different colors.

A tug yanked in my chest, and without meaning to, I glanced up at the balcony. The usual people were there, Vad looking more sullen and stoic than ever. The memory of his body pressed against mine and him breathing in my scent knocked the breath from me. My body warmed and my chest heaved, wanting him to swoop down here and finish what he’d started last night.

His stormy gaze met mine, and the jolt of attraction bolted through me despite him not being anywhere near me. I licked my lips, and saw his breath hitch.

Thalen leaned over and blocked my view of Vad. He flashed the bird at me all over again.

My lips twitched into a reluctant smile, and my tension eased just a bit. Somehow it no longer seemed like a dismissive gesture. I could almost hear him calling me Chaos in that singsong tone.

I lifted my hand and returned the gesture, and he beamed, bright amber eyes glowing like torchlight. He placed a hand over his heart and mouthed, That’s my girl .

Vad fisted a hand in Thalen’s hair and yanked him away, and Silus flanked Vad’s other side with a huge scowl.

I tore my gaze away and took in the room. The smile slipped from my face.

Everything had changed. Yet nothing had changed. The reapers were still there, standing ominously on the platform to the right of the royals in dark gray and light gray robes with thick hoods. I hated them. I dug my fingernails into my palms, using the sting to ground myself. I hated that they’d pulled me into this mess without any care for what I wanted.

More than anything, I hated how Vad had looked at me last night. I scanned the area, trying to determine who his special visitor had been.

He’d said things that had made me think I was special, but I should’ve known better. He hadn’t meant any of it. Hadn’t known what he was saying. It was the alcohol. Just the alcohol, and he'd managed to sooth his frustrations with one of the other ladies here. Bitterness froze my blood.

Before I could dwell on it, Rhielle swept through the doors, face pale and a thick bandage wrapped around her neck. Her magenta eyes locked on Kaylen, but Kaylen wasn’t looking at her at all. She crossed the room to where our friends stood.

I hurried over to her on weak legs. She was injured worse than when I’d left her with the physicians, and we had another trial to get through. “What happened?”

“Someone tried to kill me last night.” Rhielle’s nostrils flared.

Our entire group reacted. Thalira gasped, Myantha covered her mouth, and Quen stiffened, orange fire flaring at her fingertips. Velessa cradled her injured arm in its sling and stared at her in horror.

Yuki’s eyes went wide, and she asked, “How did you—”

“Survive?” Rhielle cut in. Her voice was sharp and furious. “I can summon my shadow shield in one beat of my heart. The assassin barely nicked my throat before I blocked the attack.” Her gaze was pure fire. “But the blade was poisoned. I spent the rest of the night in the infirmary, and I didn’t see who attacked me in the darkness.”

I wanted to vomit. Not even in our own rooms with guards outside were we safe. How was that even possible?

“That’s terrible,” Myantha said, her hand at her mouth. “Do you think it was—”

“Of course it was her. And I’m going to make her feel threatened out of spite.” Rhielle’s eyes flashed with anger.

I understood the sentiment. I was close to wanting to rip everyone not in our circle to shreds. “I completely support you.” The problem was, now, a part of me actually wanted to win, which was asinine.

Rhielle turned to me and whispered, “I don’t want to win—I just want to make Kaylen believe I do. Veralt will understand.”

My brows furrowed. “Veralt? Are they on one of the councils?”

“No.” Rhielle rubbed the spot over her heart. “He’s my lover. I hope to marry him, if I can get out of this mess.”

My body quivered with even more rage. Fate had selected a woman whose heart was already taken and had thrown her into this mess? Why did she spite us so?

Vyraetos, head of the reapers and the leader of all this nonsense, stepped to the edge of the platform. He cleared his throat and lifted his pale wrinkled hands. "Congratulations. You have all survived to be part of the second test, and none were disqualified in the night.

“Today your intelligence will be tested. Before you depart, you will each be given two discs. One will be fastened to each of your wrists. If you survive, you may keep them. When the test begins, you will be placed on a platform at the start of a labyrinth, and you will have to find your way to a tower and navigate your way to the top. At the top of the tower, you will find round slots with an emblem that matches each of your discs. You will place your discs in the slots, and then the straps will come free. If you have wings, they will be magically bound when you are transported through the portal of the shadow-beast sigil. I suggest you draw them in before you leave the Ascension Hall.

“If you have magic, it will be restrained while you’re in the labyrinth itself with one exception—the starting platform. If you try to use magic anywhere else, you will be punished. Passive magic may be used so long as you do nothing to command it. The glyphs and sigils throughout [ED1] [JG2] will prevent you from doing more than that. All you will have to help you are your wits and these weights, which hold the sign you are to match."

A lump formed in my throat as he waved his hand, and servants in dark blue appeared with blank dinner-plate-sized bronze discs. The servants moved down the line, fastening them to wrists with thick leather straps. Once both plates were fastened to a woman, light pulsed in the discs, and an image formed.

Lovely. I was quite certain that I’d be imageless again. So I’d bet there was no way I could “win.”

Quen stood beside me, a fire beetle appearing on her discs.

The servants took both my wrists and fastened the slick leather to them. As soon as they stepped back, light flared on my discs, revealing a butterfly with flame wings identical to my tattoo.

When I dropped my hands, the discs pulled downward, surprising me with their weight. They were annoying, but not nearly as unwieldy as I’d feared.

Kaylen hefted them like they were nothing, giving me a mocking pout when she saw me looking at her.

“Too heavy for you?” she called out, her voice dripping with false sympathy.

I hoisted the discs over my head and held them, giving her a toothy grin in response.

She narrowed her eyes and smiled but didn’t follow suit.

Interesting. I paused, tilting my head while studying her. She appeared a lot healthier than she had last night. A lot healthier than the rest of the fae. I had my wolf to explain my fast healing, but she didn’t.

Something seemed off.

Her color had returned, and while her gown had long sleeves, they were sheer, and I couldn’t see my bite mark, or any of the marks from the creepy crawlies. Could fae heal that fast?

Kaylen looked at Velessa and clicked her tongue. “Oh, fellow Sylvan sister, I feel so terrible for you. How are you going to manage your second disc with your arm in such bad shape?”

Lifting her chin, Velessa hugged the discs to her chest, keep the one from putting weight on her injured arm.

My heart twinged. There was no doubt she’d struggle in this round.

“How is everyone feeling?” I turned my attention to our group. Maybe others had improved as quickly as Kaylen.

Yuki and Quen softly admitted they were feeling stiff and sore from the previous day’s stings. It was worse this morning, though the physician said most of the pain should pass by evening. Myantha was likewise riddled with bites and stings, and she scratched at her arms.

Struggling to put weight on her left leg, Thalira winced as they fastened the discs to her arms, her dark brow furrowing. “We have to keep these on the whole time?”

The servants nodded.

This was ridiculous. I stepped forward, the discs swinging at my sides. “What about those of us who are injured?”

“They must be clever to survive. The faster you move, the less likely you are to be attacked by the moving platforms and creatures.”

Of course there would be more fucking creatures. And knowing my luck, it’d be the wolf-sized creepy crawlers again. I shuddered, remembering the cold venom. I locked my attention on the hooded reapers. “Some of us can barely walk, let alone fight, run, and navigate an ever-shifting labyrinth of moving platforms, and now you’re added creatures ?”

Vad’s shoulders tensed. He studied me, and I thought I saw a flicker of concern cross his face.

My heart tugged, wanting to let him know I was talking about the others and not myself. I wanted to wipe away that concern.

But then Silus whispered something to him, and his mouth tightened. He turned his gaze away.

Vyraetos remained as calm as before. "If you wish, you can remain on the solid black starting platform at the beginning of the labyrinth. The solid black platforms throughout will not transform, and, while creatures may still attack, they will not attack as much on the outer sections of the labyrinth as they will inside.

“But, if no one has reached the end within an hour, then the starting platform will begin to shrink until those contestants have no choice but to compete. This is a trial in which it is possible for everyone to die. But only three must reach the end for the trial to conclude.

“In fact, there is an extra incentive to be amongst the first three. At the celebration ball, each will receive a dance with the prince, in the order of the prince’s choosing. And one may be chosen to lead the opening dance with the king.”

“Praise Fate.” Kaylen smiled and batted her eyes.

Please Fate, no . Don’t let the woman he entertained last night be that bitch.

The two women who’d been standing on the sidelines and the mean girl posse began having hurried and hushed conversations. The tension in the room intensified. A deep scowl broke across Kaylen’s face. Whatever the girls around her were saying, she didn’t seem pleased.

I gripped my discs and drew a deep breath. I couldn’t let the tightness in my chest slow me down. I had to get through this. Not so I could dance with Vad—I didn’t give a damn about that.

My wolf snarled, calling me out on my lie. That was something we’d have to address later.

“I can’t believe they’re doing this.” Thalira limped a few steps closer to the center of our group. “Forcing us to compete when we’re barely able to stand, and not even allowing us to use our magic?”

“Believe it.” Quen wrinkled her nose. “They’re ruthless. We know that much.” Her shoulders sagged as she examined her hands. “I don’t know how I’ll fight without magic. Feck this. I don’t want to dance with the prince. I just don’t want to die.”

Myantha nodded, hugging herself and drawing closer to Velessa. The purple-haired fae hugged the younger woman with her good arm and whispered something to her.

“Only three of us have to make it through to end the challenge for everyone.” Rhielle’s eyes burned. “I’ll get to the end and laugh in that smug bitch’s face.”

“Sounds good.” Better her than me. I tightened the straps around my wrists and glanced at Vad.

He was staring at me, arms crossed, and I felt the pull toward him again. Too much . I couldn’t think about him now. I couldn’t think about anything but surviving.

Vyraetos studied all of us in silence for a moment longer. Then he lifted his arms. “Once again, you will enter the labyrinth in a random order. This has been confirmed. The first to enter are Kaylen, Calla Lily, Myantha, and Briar. Step onto the Shadow Beast Sigil, please.”

Of course I’d be stuck with her.

Trying to keep my eyes from rolling, I strode to the center of the room. I straightened my shoulders and lifted my chin, ignoring the way the discs pulled on my wrists.

Kaylen’s lips curled into smirk as she stepped into place beside me.

“This should be fun.” She stood confidently, tossing her white-blonde hair over her shoulder. “I hope you don’t strain your arms.”

Calla Lily and Myantha joined us. Myantha trembled as she took her place, her honey-gold locs falling over her face. She looked at me, and I wanted to reassure her. But I couldn’t. This was going to be hell, and all we could do was fight our way through it. And if I couldn’t protect her any better than I’d protected Aelir, then she’d be dead.

Black mist spiraled around us, and we vanished. My feet scraped on smooth cold stone, and an ungodly stench assaulted my nostrils.

I opened my eyes and pushed myself up, and when I saw the labyrinth stretching before me, all I could say was, “Fuck.”