Page 22 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King (Of Fae and Wolf Trilogy #1)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Briar

M y body tensed, and I turned to find King Merrick standing before me. He held out his other hand, waiting for my answer. He was dressed almost identically to Vad, but he wore silver instead of gold with a more decorative pattern.

The music changed, turning into a somber song with harps taking the lead.

Thalen’s mouth dropped open, which didn’t help my nerves at all. He was speechless, and that unsettled me more.

I swallowed hard, not truly wanting to go on the dance floor with the king, but also not wanting to insult him. “I don’t know how to dance, Your Majesty.”

He bowed his head ever so slightly and reached for my hand. “Don’t fret. I’ll instruct you.”

My mouth dried. There was no way I could truly get out of it, so I slid my hand into his and smiled. “I’d love the honor then.”

The king drew me closer, but Thalen remained motionless, blocking us from the dance floor. The king used his free hand to gently move Thalen to the side so both of us could pass.

I expected others to follow us onto the floor, but everyone gathered around with their eyes on the two of us, like it was some sort of spectacle.

“Place your left hand on my shoulder, and follow my lead,” the king instructed, placing a hand on my waist and taking my free hand in his. He stepped slowly so that I didn’t have a hard time keeping up with him.

The lights played on the king’s face, and I could’ve sworn for a second there were dark circles under his eyes before they vanished.

“Tell me about your family?” The king tilted his head. “You have such unusual magic. Steady now. I’m going to twirl you.”

With a flourish, he spun me, and I glided back to him.

I couldn’t help but notice Vad dragging Kaylen off the dance floor. Once they reached the edge, he turned to watch while Kaylen stood beside him with a look that screamed she was constipated.

This was a trick question, and I wasn’t sure what he wanted to hear. But hell, what did it matter? It wasn’t as if I had an actual chance here. “I have an older sister who I love dearly. We lost our parents a few months ago due to a supernatural war on Earth, and we found a new family that took us in. My sister is mated to the alpha of our new pack.”

“The loss of people you love is difficult. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.” He paused as his eyes darkened to a navy blue, like he’d gotten lost in memories. “Take smaller steps.”

Both extreme reactions had me stumbling slightly, but I managed to recover fast.

“You mentioned words I don’t comprehend in this context. What is an alpha and a pack?”

They had shadow wolves here or something like that, so I was surprised he didn’t understand these concepts. However, maybe the wolves weren’t able to shift, so they couldn’t directly communicate with the people. “The alpha is the leader of the pack who makes final decisions. The pack is like a family. At birth you’re born into one, but if something happens, you can change packs by following a new alpha.”

“So an alpha is like a ruler.” He pursed his lips. “Interesting.”

I wanted to ask about his family, but I was thinking about Vad too much, so I kept my mouth closed. I didn’t need to hear someone else talk about him too, especially his dad.

“Why did you help the weaker fae instead of protecting yourself? You were injured far beyond what was necessary because of your intervention.” The king stepped back and then returned to the same position. "Now we move back three steps."

I gritted my teeth. Of course he disapproved of my antics. I was quite certain everyone had expected Kalyen or Rhielle to win, and both of them had gone for it, leaving the rest of us behind. The difference was that Rhielle had helped others when she could or, at least, had done no harm, unlike Kaylen, who didn’t hesitate to kill. “A pack protects all its members. When my parents were alive, they believed in protecting the young, the old, the strong, and the weak equally.

“Every life is important, because our world needs balance. The weak provide strength in ways that can’t physically be seen most of the time, but they’re usually the doctors helping to heal people or working the fields to bring food to our table. Everyone has something valuable to contribute, and what kind of person would I be if I could protect someone and chose not to? I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. It should be the best for all and not just one person.”

“Interesting.” His face remained solemn. “I’m going to dip you now.”

My body tilted backwards, and the golden ceiling came into view, sparkling with all the lights from the ball, his grip on me steady and polite.

When I came back up, he’d masked his expression into one of indifference.

Yeah, he didn’t like me. However, there was nothing I could do to change that. I searched inwardly, tugging on the faint warm pack link that represented Ember. Fate, I missed her so much right now.

“Why is your shifted form a different color from the shadow beast? And what precisely does your magic allow you to do?”

The harps played even louder, causing my heart to ache even more. “When you say shadow beast, I’m assuming you’re talking about the wolf on the Ascension Hall floor and on your surcoat?”

He paused for a moment, his head tilting. “You call it a wolf?”

“Yes. And all I can tell you is that my wolf isn’t made of fae magic. Mine comes from Earth, and we turn into animals that humans expect to see. We can shift at will and can speak to other members of our pack with our thoughts.”

His face wrinkled with what had to be concern. “I’ve never heard of such a thing. Now take a step back.”

I obeyed, hating the way he seemed to be inspecting me. I glanced around, hoping Thalen would save me, but he was in the corner of the room, talking intently to a blushing Myantha.

Traitor.

“What do you think of these trials?” the king asked.

I inhaled a deep breath. Clearly, the king wouldn’t like what I had to say, so there was no point in holding back. “I think they’re grotesque and outdated. An arranged marriage would work better than this and wouldn’t result in the loss of lives while people look on. Fae don’t seem to have a problem turning on each other if that means they can get ahead, and I think if things like that continue, the pieces of a person’s soul that make them care, love, and get angry will be replaced with raw hatred.”

He nodded, his expression somber. "And what do you think of Vad?"

My breath caught. Out of all the questions, he’d asked about Vad. “I think he’s vulnerable and hides it with arrogance. He pushes everyone away but you, Elara, Thalen, and Silus, because he’s afraid to care for anyone else. He has the potential to be an amazing man and a wonderful leader, but if he continues down this road, his stupid self will always fall short. He needs someone who's going to love him, push him, and be by his side at all times with more than just her mere presence.”

He gave a contemplative hum, not reacting otherwise. Then he looked me in the eye and asked, "Do you like him?"

My legs stop moving and my mouth opened and closed like a damn goldfish. No words came out.

How the hell did I answer that?

Vad

My stomach soured as I took Kaylen through the steps of “Moonlight Waltz,” the fastest waltz in the traditional first dances for a Shadow Fae ball. This dance would seem to never end. Kaylen disgusted me in ways I couldn’t put into words, even as she tried to bat her lashes and flirt. As hot as Briar made my blood, Kaylen chilled me to my soul and made my skin crawl.

I couldn’t even focus on what Kaylen was saying; I was trying to get through the dance without strangling her.

Something yanked at my chest, and I had no doubt that Briar had arrived. My reward for enduring this intolerable task was to finally look upon the woman who dominated my thoughts and dreams. As much as I hated my own weakness and how fast the connection had happened, I no longer wanted to pretend about my feelings for Briar, and I doubted I could hide my reactions to her. Fast or slow, Briar held my heart in her wild magicked hands. Maybe she could turn into a strange colored shadow beast, and maybe she was reckless. But she would be mine, and her heart was more pure than the refined gold in Fate’s Sanctum.

All at once, the music changed. The steady rhythm of the crotalums and the pan flute ceased, and the tempo slowed to a contemplative waltz as rune harps, wood shawms, bodhrán drums, and bone flutes rose in a gentle layered harmony. When those first notes struck, I straightened, and the hairs on the back of my neck rose.

I knew this song. It was one of my mother's favorites at these events, "The Starlight Crown.” She’d loved it because it was so easy to dance to. Whenever there were newcomers, she’d asked that it be played, and almost all found it easy to follow. When she’d taught Elara and me the basics of dance before we began our formal lessons, this was the song she had chosen.

I hadn’t heard it in years. Yet I knew that rhythm, and I turned.

My shoulders sagged, and my heart nearly stopped. By Fate—what had chaos and beauty wrought? I couldn’t breathe as I saw her gliding across the floor with my father.

I faltered, my grip on Kaylen loosening even more as my heart quickened. I’d avoided looking at her because I’d known just how gorgeous she would be. There had been dozens and dozens of gowns readied for the candidates, but I’d picked the best one to be sent to her, selecting the one that would set her body off to its full advantage and frame those perfect breasts and that elegant waist.

Not even in my wildest dreams had I realized how stunning she would look. She was a vision in violet and ivory, the gold branches on the bodice and skirt representative of the golden aspens beyond the salt lakes and twilight mountains in the far north. She looked as if she had been blessed by Fate herself, and while I’d known she would be a sight to behold, nothing had prepared me for this.

“That little fiend,” Kaylen started.

“Shush.” I glared down at her and dragged her off the dance floor so fast my feet nearly tangled in her layered yellow skirts. Nothing was going to ruin this moment. My father was here in his full regal garb, all black and silvery gray. And he was dancing with the woman who meant the world to me. Nerves worked through me, and my mouth turned to cotton as I struggled to comprehend what had happened.

How was this possible?

“I must insist that, when this is finished, you dance with me again.” Kaylen cut in front of me, vivid color streaking her cheeks. “After all, I am owed a full dance.”

This harpy was getting in the way. Anger strung my patience to its thinnest point. Stepping away from her, I fixed my gaze once more on Briar and spoke to Kaylen with clipped words, “The actual rules of your reward are that you get to live and that I would dance with you. I have danced with you. Nothing was said regarding the length of the song or that it would be a full song.”

Her breath hissed through her teeth. “You are being exceptionally discourteous, Your Highness. You should be wiser about those whom you alienate. It could have unfortunate consequences for you and those you love.”

Now she had my full attention. My wings bristled out. “I suggest you reconsider that statement,” I growled. “And understand this—if I learn that you or anyone associated with you is involved in harming someone I care about, I will see to it that every bone in your body is shattered or that you receive the closest painful equivalent. And to ensure there is no misunderstanding between us, that includes Briar.”

She paled even more as she drew back. “I meant no offense.” Her voice tightened, and her hands balled into fists. A trickle of red appeared between her fingers. “Forgive me, Your Highness.” She then turned on her heel and stormed away.

I spared her one more look just to ensure she was gone. Thalen was right. That bold yellow did not suit her in the slightest. I chuckled inwardly as I turned my gaze toward the sleek ballroom floor. As I did, Rhielle strode to the door, her midnight blue gown making her seem even more like a shadow. She halted when she saw Kaylen, and then she scanned the chamber. Her eyes met mine, and her eyebrow lifted. She looked pointedly from Briar to me, then mouthed, Be good to her .

I dipped my head forward in silent acknowledgment and mouthed back, Forever . I meant it with every bone and fiber in my body.

A smile spread over her face. Her hand rose to her throat, her fingertips brushing the livid scar. Then she disappeared into the sea of people. She really was a remarkable woman. Every inch the consummate Shadow Fae. But she wasn’t Briar.

No. Rhielle was someone the Shadow Fae Council might have arranged for me to wed. On paper, she made sense, though I suspected there was more of the wild in her than she let on. But she was not well suited to me. Briar, on the other hand, was all that I longed for, with her bright copper hair and jade green eyes that glowed with heart and passion, chaos and loyalty.

My focus returned to the dance floor as whispers spread. My father hadn’t danced since Mother’s death. He’d barely shown up. I could barely believe my eyes. Even from this distance, I could tell how much he liked Briar. The edges of his eyes were crinkled, and he seemed entranced by the animated way she spoke—the toss of her hair, the tip of her chin, the snap of her head—I had no doubt she was telling my father precisely what she thought about our kingdom, the trials, and whatever else he might ask. She was never one to be short of words.

His expressions were far more subtle—slight twitches at the mouth, minor tilts of the head, and murmured instructions—but he might as well be announcing to all who were watching that he was fond of Briar. I caught the movements of his lips enough to know that he was telling her the dance steps, instructing her as he had once instructed Elara.

With that thought, I scanned the crowd once more, searching for my sister. There. Across the room, clasping a glass of indigo moon wine in both black-gloved hands, secreted away in the shadows. Her face shone with happiness, her shoulders hunched as if she could scarcely bear the sight from sheer delight. Silus loomed near her, his expression stoic with hints of concern. He still couldn’t see just how good Briar was. Or perhaps he feared what she represented. Regardless, he’d just have to deal with it. We would address the matter soon enough.

Thalen, for his part, did not seem to have any opinion on this whole situation. He was standing near Myantha. Another dark-haired fae came alongside and reached for her arm, and Thalen grabbed that fae’s wrist and said something with a smile sharp enough to cut glass.

I smirked. Turnabout would be fair play soon enough.

My gaze returned to Briar then stilled. Heat flared down my spine and through my wings. My father was guiding her to me through the dance. I took half a step forward, breath catching in my throat. He asked her something, and I thought I caught the sound of my name. But she stared up at him with eyes as wide as if he had told her he was going to turn into a pumpkin in three minutes.

She didn’t answer, but a broad smile broke over his face.

The first I’d seen in years.

I firmed my jaw, my fingers and wings twitching. Then he looked at me and motioned for me to come closer, holding Briar’s right hand in his, his thumb pressed to her palm. “Your mother would have loved her, Vad.” The smile remained on his face as he drew her closer to me. “And I love her too. Sometimes, it really doesn’t take long to determine this sort of thing. Please. Enjoy the rest of the ball. I will handle the remaining tasks.”

“Are you certain?” More than anything, I wanted to sweep Briar away and have her all to myself. But I didn’t want to abandon my father. He hadn’t stayed at a social event for more than an hour in years. As much as this meant to me, I couldn’t leave without checking once more.

He nodded, chuckling wryly. “Yes. Go. I’ll send for you if I need you.” He then placed her hand in mine and looked at her. “You are a remarkable young woman, Briar. May your heart always burn bright for those who cannot fight for themselves. You remind me so much of Valora.” His voice broke a little as he said my mother's name; then he pressed her toward me.

I could scarcely believe that had happened, and then Briar was in my arms. I found myself pulling her close without even thinking about it. It was natural—the way it should be. The heat from her body reached mine, and the jolting warmth of her touch returned. My heart soared to hold her. Her right hand went to my shoulder, her left to my upturned palm. My wings tensed, and I held up my hand to signal the orchestra that it was time to transition to the song I’d chosen just for her. With that, I swept her into the center of the dance floor.

The lights, magical and soft, played over us, brightening her face, shining in her hair, and shimmering over the gold branches woven into her dress. Her hair came alive with hints of gold and ruby, wheat and strawberry, and her eyes glowed jade green with flecks of emerald, jet, and malachite. She followed my lead with seamless grace, her skirts rustling softly with each step and her heels clicking on the floor.

“I am honored to share the third dance with you,” I said.

Her brow wrinkled, and confusion danced on her face like the lights upon us both. “Well, first, this is the second dance, not the third.”

“Shush now.” I gave her a mock scowl. “You have both the second and third. The third dance is the most honored dance, and this song is ‘The Midnight Vow Beneath the Veil.’” The obsidian harp notes and pan flute both reminded me of her.

“Is it?” She lifted an eyebrow in a sharp arch, her eyes flashing. “You did dance with Kaylen first. Are you acting like I can’t count how many dances there’ve been? Are you dancing with me now because you got your father’s approval?”

A smile broke across my face. What an infuriating and beautiful woman she was. That spark of jealousy in her eyes delighted me. “The first dance is simply to begin. The focus is not on the dance itself. It’s a light pleasant encounter that summons the guests to the ballroom. The second dance is a little more important, and it’s often the sign to finish drinks and food and prepare for the main event. And that is the third dance, especially if the prince signals through his choice of music that it does in fact mean something more. So far as my father, I had no idea he would be attending. His approval of you means a great deal to me, but I had already set my resolve before the music started.” I paused, curling her close to me, my hand splaying over the small of her back. “Will you join me in the observatory, Briar? There’s something important I need to ask you.”

She scrunched up her adorable nose at me, then frowned as we continued to dance. My heart clenched, waiting for her answer.