Page 20 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King (Of Fae and Wolf Trilogy #1)

Chapter Twenty

Vad

T he gray stone walls closed in on me as I watched Briar once again lift Rhielle so the fae could slide her discs into her container. The leathers fell from Rhielle’s hands. My own hands clamped onto the stone table that held three crystal seeing-orbs showing three different points of the labyrinth.

My veins burned with rage that intensified with each second, and my entire concentration homed in on the orb that made it possible to view Briar. My wings were spread wide, tense beside me. I could feel Silus's disapproval, but I didn’t give a feck. He could go jump in the void.

Every ounce of my control was consumed by forcing myself to remain in this safe, protected room in the palace, watching the woman who’d captivated me fight for not only her life but the lives of others. I should be beside her, protecting her and shunning Fate for this abomination of a competition.

At this point, there was no denying my feelings, inexplicable and frankly impossible as they were. Within mere days, this strange, human beast-woman had barged into my life and made me question every choice I’d made. Watching Briar almost die so many damn times had made my feelings clear.

Elara stood next to me, and the tip of my wing curled around her. She glanced at me with a concerned expression, but thankfully, Father was engrossed in the trial itself, a deep-set scowl upon his face.

At least, we agreed the trials were utterly barbaric.

“I wish you would’ve allowed us to eat and drink this time.” Thalen edged around the table to Briar’s orb, though his attention seemed to flicker to another orb where the woman with honey-gold locs kept appearing, even though she was still on the starting platform. He pointed at Briar. “I feel drained and famished just watching my girl.”

My girl . I snarled, wanting to choke the airy bastard.

Thalen glanced at me with a wicked grin. “What’s wrong, Vad? Did I say something that upset you?”

“Enough, Thalen,” Silus warned, snagging him by the arm and dragging him behind Father, Elara, and me again.

“Rhielle already behaves like a queen,” one of the Shadow Council members stated. “She’s injured and yet finished second in the entire competition. She keeps finding ways to outshine the others while appearing regal.”

My hands fisted. I wanted to punch the scaffing life out of him. The only reason Rhielle had finished at all was because of Briar, but they were diminishing Briar and her sacrifices. What was wrong with these councilors?

An Aureline Council member gestured to the same orb. “But she succeeded only because she received aid. Look at Kaylen. She embodied true cleverness and resilience. No one helped her. She showed discretion in her interactions with the others as well.”

Kaylen jumped over the top of the column and raced to her container. I needed her to put her fecking discs in. Not because I wanted her to be one of the winners but because I needed this trial finished so I could get to Briar. As soon as Kaylen slid in her discs, the snake on top of her container attacked her, and an explosion went off. I turned and marched to the door with as controlled a stride as possible.

“Prince V—” one of the council members called, but I ignored them. I had stood there during the entire trial, listening to them insult Briar and praise the others without saying a word. The trial was over, and so was my obligation to them for the time being.

Hands fisted at my sides, I raced to the Ascension Hall, my mind spinning. My heart pounded and my legs grew heavy, so I flew the rest of the way there.

The guards were just opening the doors to the hall when I reached them. I thrust by and finished shoving them open, the edges catching on my bracers. My bristling wings clipped the door, but none of that mattered. The damn tugging took hold.

Aching need pulsed through me, underscored with desperation. Where is she?

Everything blurred in a haze of black and gold walls as I scanned the gathered women. Soft murmurs of surprise from the platform indicated the councilors were gathering there. They probably weren’t pleased with my arrival on the hall floor. But as far as I was concerned, they could jump into the scaffing pit of leeches themselves if they disapproved so much.

Kaylen clutched her face, still wailing from her well-deserved snakebite. Ceana hunched in the back of the group, her deep violet hair hanging in stringy sweaty strands and sticking to her face, while Siray pointedly avoided looking at anyone, her burgundy dress ragged and soaked with slime.

The rest had gathered together in the center, most of them sitting or crouching. Briar’s little group that she’d fought for and protected gathered around her. And my heart damn near lurched from my chest.

There Briar was, sitting with her legs apart and the ragged pieces of her dress skirt tied around her thighs, her shoulders slumped as if she wanted to collapse on the floor. A filthy makeshift bandage wrapped around her lower leg had turned all shades of green, black, and brown, with some shades of crimson from fresh blood. She was pale and bruised, with glistening raw patches on her wrists from the leather straps of the discs.

My rage burned hotter. How dare those scratches and bruises mar her beautiful porcelain skin. The desire to fall to my knees and kiss each one filled me, but there was no justification I could offer for that.

The women in the group scattered or drew back as I approached, and Briar’s eyes widened.

I knelt beside her and lifted her ankle to inspect the wound on her leg. As soon as our skin touched, a jolt of energy cut through me and vibrated into my bones. An urge to take a guard’s sword and kill the councilors filled me, but that would result in all of Nytharia turning against us.

My vision blurred, and I blinked. Scaffing void, had there ever been a more beautiful leg and ankle that had been forced to endure such suffering? Hatred boiled in my soul that Fate would ever ask her to endure these trials to prove she was worthy. There was no doubt she was the most worthy to stand at my side, and I’d prove to her that I was worthy of her affection.

“How badly does it hurt, Briar?” I rasped, my throat thick with emotion and all the things I wanted to say but couldn’t.

Her full lips parted, and her delicate tongue darted over them. My blood heated to a fever, urging me to kiss her here right against the shadow-beast sigil. The awkwardness of our position and some shred of sanity held me in place though. I cradled her ankle in one palm and rested the other beneath her calf, my fingers carefully positioned to not touch any of the redness on the bandage where the wound was likely situated.

“I’m fine.” She started to draw her leg back, her toes curling as she wriggled. But she didn’t fully pull away.

“The physician will look you over now. Can you walk?”

“What?” Her head tipped back, her eyes brightening even through what had to be such horrid pain. “Why, are you going to carry me?”

“If necessary, yes.” I forced the words out. Of course I would. I’d snatch her up and hold her close right now if it wouldn’t make her even more of a target. That little sane part of my brain desperately begged me not to listen to the heated arousal that suggested we could just go somewhere private right now.

Leather boots squeaked on the polished marble floor behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder to see that the physicians had arrived.

I growled. I hated that they were going to touch her and see her this way. Only I should be allowed to touch this woman. The idea of their hands on her had my vision darkening at the sides, the urge to murder them overwhelming me once again.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my irrational thoughts. I couldn’t stitch her wounds, nor did I know what herbs would best aid her healing. I released her leg and nodded toward it, encouraging the now-scared-looking attendant beside her to do his job. For good measure I shot him a firm glare before focusing once more on Briar and trying not to look at those beautiful thighs.

Feck. A groan built deep in my chest, coiling through me to my core and beyond. The things I could do at a similar angle. She could sit on the desk in my observatory, and I could—I—I had to compose myself. Still kneeling, I dragged my attention to Rhielle. She was watching me with an arched eyebrow and a smirk on her face similar enough to Thalen’s that I wanted to smack her.

“Rhielle.” I nodded.

“Mm hmm?” She tilted her chin up, that eyebrow still lifted. She sat in a similar position to Briar, one leg extended and her head high. Her hair was plastered to her head, filthy and matted, and the bandage around her throat had gone green. But she looked like a cat who’d caught a snake, and I knew why. The image of her and Briar working their way up the column with Rhielle on Briar’s back flashed into my mind, including them passing Kaylen, and the sheer shock on that vicious harpy’s face. If I hadn’t been so worried, I’d have wanted to laugh with Rhielle and Briar about how Briar had helped her reach the end.

Rhielle reached out a hand, a couple of her nails torn and bloodied, and placed it over Briar’s. “I don’t know if you’re aware, but the only reason I’m here is because of Briar. She was exceptionally clever, and I am honored to call her friend.”

Briar’s face twitched at that, more wetness forming in her eyes. Her smile tugged higher.

“I’m aware.” The words were like sandpaper against my throat, making it even harder to fight the urge to focus fully on Briar.

A low choked laugh sounded behind me, alerting me to Thalen’s presence. Silus was likely beside him, probably staring in stoic disapproval.

“You need the physician’s attention too.” I gestured to Rhielle’s ankle. “That venom looks to be traveling quickly.”

“Well, it’s certainly traveling faster than I’d like.” Rhielle lifted her ragged blue dress, exposing her thigh. Long dark veins snaked and branched up from her ankle past her knee to at least the middle of her thigh. Probably higher, though she stopped lifting the dirty blue fabric.

“Hm.” I tilted my head, trying to focus and not imagine seeing Briar’s thighs again. Especially in this position.

Briar stiffened and leaned forward, lifting a hand. Then she scowled and drew back. Her nose wrinkled in the most adorable little frown, and my heart leapt. Was she jealous?

Some part of me calmed as I studied Briar in my periphery and continued to speak to Rhielle, hiding the small smile that wanted to pull free. “I’m sure Physician Karu will have some herbs to ease your pain and also stop the venom. She is one of the most skilled in the Shadow Kingdom.”

Physician Morlo would be looking over Briar. He was the best of all the physicians and the one my family most favored and trusted. Elara had already ensured that he tended to Briar yesterday.

The nervous gray- robed healing attendant edged closer to Briar. I gave him a warning look to make it clear that, if he so much as thought about enjoying touching her, I would rip his spine out. And I’d do the same if he failed to treat her properly as well.

I stood and held my hand out to Briar. For a moment, she simply stared, then she slipped her hand into mine. The most delightful warmth spread up my arm and filled me, and it took so much strength not to tug her all the way into my arms and kiss that sweet face of hers. Instead, I helped her stand and steadied her. My one hand fell to her hip, the curve fitting my palm perfectly.

Neither of the councils favored her, but I wanted her. That wasn’t the liquor talking either, though I’d give anything right now to have her tucked away with me in my observatory, sharing a large glass of night brandy or moon wine as I told her I chose her. Above all the others, I chose her.

Elara cleared her throat softly behind me. I looked back and saw her smiling and Silus scowling. Thalen was nowhere to be seen.

I frowned, but Elara made a small gesture toward the physician’s attendant and said, “If Briar is to be ready for the ball tonight, we should let her visit the physician, should we not?”

Sometimes, the way she asked such obvious questions made me just want to contradict her. No, we should not let the physician see her. We should let her stay with me . But I was a prince. And I didn’t want Briar to suffer. Some healing potions and salves as well as red tea and whatever other herbal solutions the physician had would give her comfort.

Reluctantly, I released her hand. The attendant bowed his head, his long ash braid sliding over his shoulder. “Can you walk, miss?”

If she couldn’t, I would carry her. I stepped closer, my wings tensing.

Briar shook her head, then cut her eyes up at me. “I can walk. Lead the way.” She rose and followed the attendant, her steps slow but surprisingly steady.

I cast my gaze around the chamber and tried to orient myself. Silus was still beside Elara, his face a blank mask. And—

A sharp yelp cut through the heavy air, causing me to turn.

Myantha staggered to her feet, seeming to have tripped, her ragged pink and red skirt tangled around her golden-brown legs. Thalen stood beside her, his hand at her elbow as he helped her stand. He said something to her in a tone so soft I didn’t catch it, and she turned her arm over to show some of the stings and bruises. Whatever he said in response made her blush and duck her head. Oh. This was a delightful twist. There were so many ways I could get even if this was going where it seemed to be.

Before I could speak, Kaylen crossed to me, clearly desiring attention and feeling she deserved it as she was one of the three winners. “Your Highness.” Her now unbound wings fluttered as she tipped her head. A yellow fluid on her cheek had already seeped beneath the crude temporary bandage. “I am honored to be among the three chosen to dance with you at the ball. If I might be so bold, I know the perfect song. ‘Waltz of the Moonlit Wings.’ It's a special song among the Sylvan Fae.”

I pressed my lips into a tight line. That song was easily ten minutes long and could be made even longer. It was traditionally played as the third song in the lineup if the king did not open with a dance with one of the contestants. "No. The songs have already been chosen, and you will receive the first dance."

Her brow furrowed. "The first?" Her mouth pinched. She understood the first dance was the shortest, and its sole purpose was to indicate that the ball was beginning in full and that the attendees should begin to pay attention.

"The first." I canted my head, my voice hard and with enough authority that she would not dare to question me. "And I recommend that you see the physician soon for that bite, or else the venom will leave you with a nasty scar. It would be a shame for your one good feature to be so ruined."

Her face twisted, and a look of pure hate and venom sparked in her silver eyes. She dipped her head forward though and said, "As you say, Your Highness."

An uneasy sensation coiled within me, warning me yet again that this woman was not to be trusted.