Page 8 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King (Of Fae and Wolf Trilogy #1)

Chapter Eight

Briar

S omething sparked my tattoo, causing it to warm and flutter its wings faster. Even more alarming, all the women stood in the center of the logo in the hall I’d arrived in, staring at the balcony above Elara’s and my heads.

With how quiet the ladies were—even Kaylen—a chill ran down my back. For these women to stand at attention, the trial must have already started.

Elara seemed unaffected as she stepped into the vast chamber. Her long braid trailed behind her like a shadowy banner. I swallowed the bile rising in my throat and forced myself to move forward, not wanting to be left behind… again.

My wolf inched forward, growling as if she could sense something was off in this room too. We searched for threats on the outskirts of the room, and most definitely kept an eye on Bitch Kaylen and her punkass minions.

I moved to the outer ring of the logo where I could watch for someone attempting to stab me in the back. Then I felt a tug and looked up at the balcony.

My heart stopped beating the moment I saw him again. He wore an all-black royal-looking outfit, this time with a golden belt and golden cuffs on his shoulders. His eyes appeared black as they met mine, and his chest heaved at the same time.

Great. Now I wanted to vomit just from him looking at me. My heart felt as if it were going to shatter, but I straightened my spine. How he felt about me wasn’t relevant. I needed to survive long enough to find a way home. He didn’t matter.

“Is that the woman who’s been making a mockery of this trial?” A man with salt-and-pepper hair stood beside Vaddy, a dark golden crown atop his head. He stared down his nose at me and grimaced.

Kaylen chuckled loud enough for me to hear, and the urge to pull her hair took over. I flinched, realizing I wanted to have an actual girl-fight instead of ripping her throat out. What the hell was wrong with me?

“My king.” Elara bowed her head before glancing over her shoulder at me. Then dark tendrils of magic floated her onto the balcony. “She was not the only one in last night's...altercation. She has come from Earth. Should we not give her time to acclimate to life here? To our ways and customs? In her land, it would seem this was an act of frivolity.” She took the spot in between the king and Silus.

“I am told she was the instigator, and got all the others involved as well.” The king placed his hands on his golden belt. “I am simply—”

“Your Majesty.” Vad’s deep voice vibrated through my body. “Perhaps we should address this after the trial. I already addressed the embarrassing display with the ladies last night.”

The king nodded, though the scowl on his face somehow deepened.

On the other side of Vad, Thalen grinned and raised his middle finger at me.

What the hell? He was flipping me off in front of everyone? Maybe the time he’d spent with me last night was just for shits and giggles. Probably he, Silus, and Vaddy had had an entire night of making fun of me.

Why should I expect anything different? This was my own personal hell before I died anyway.

A flutter of long white hair caught my eye, and Aelir appeared at my side, her emerald-green eyes glistening. “I can’t do this,” she whispered. “I can’t. They hate us.”

Reassuring words lodged in my throat, preventing me from saying them. I didn’t know if anyone could smell the stench of lies here like supernaturals could on Earth, but I didn’t want to take the chance or give false hope.

“Now let the ceremony begin.” The king puffed out his chest as men in robes walked in front of the five of them, blocking them from our view.

Oxygen couldn’t fill my lungs, because once again, I had to be living in another nightmare—all seven of the new arrivals looked like reapers.

They were like statues, as cold and still as the rest of the room. Four wore dark gray robes, and three had lighter gray attire and stood between each of the darker ones. Their presence cast a more chilling shadow across the already stark space.

One of the dark gray hooded figures stepped to the edge of the balcony. Only his thin, wrinkled hands were visible beneath the long sleeves, while his face remained hidden under the shadow of his hood. “I am Vyraetos, Ascender of the Shadow Kingdom and head of the Shadow Council.” His voice echoed through the chamber like the tolling of a distant bell. “Today marks the first trial of the bridal challenge. Fate has decreed this will be the test of ruthlessness.”

A few soft gasps echoed around the hall, and for some reason, it made me want to laugh. I didn’t understand how they could be surprised by that. Elara had informed us last night at dinner.

“Not all of you will advance.” The hooded figure flicked his wrists, and a sheet of paper appeared with shadow script on it. “Liaran, Helra, Tiriel, and Yaren have already died and have been eliminated from future trials.”

Knots formed in my stomach. What had happened to the four of them, before even the first trial?

Vyraetos raised a hand, silencing all whispers. "The rest of you will be taken to the Hall of Ruthlessness."

Blood pounded loudly in my ears. That sounded like a place where Kaylen would win, hands down. I couldn’t kill in cold blood people who hadn’t done anything to me. That wasn’t how either of my packs had operated, and I refused to become someone who thrived on violence.

“Pass out the medallions,” Vyraetos commanded loudly. “These medallions represent your magical strength and your kingdom affiliation.”

The doors to the Ascension Hall burst open and servants swarmed in, wearing deep-blue tunics that stood out brightly against the dark floors and walls.

Some of the weight lifted as I paid attention to what the other contestants were wearing. Four others had cooper accents similar to mine, while others wore blue, red, brown, gold, and black.

Servants flitted between us, passing out small clear medallions that shimmered like glass. A man with light gray hair appeared in front of Aelir and me and handed us ours.

Aelir took one with trembling hands, the colors of the medallion reflecting amber flames like a mirror. Then mine was thrust into my palm.

It dropped a few inches before I held on to it firmly. It felt way too heavy for something so small. A bright pink light flared nearby, and I jerked my head up to find Aelir’s medallion had lit up. A golden eagle blazed on the medallion, its wings spread wide.

Was she actually going to make it? My heart stuttered with relief, then panic crashed in again.

Why had hers changed and not mine?

Purple and teal sparked around me, pulling my attention from Aelir to look at the others. Each of the other medallions featured some sort of animal outlined with purple, teal, or pink.

Aelir stared at hers, then looked up and met my eyes. Her expression was a mixture of terror and determination, as if she was steeling herself for whatever would come.

My pulse raced in my throat and the cold air pressed against my lungs. My grip tightened around my unchanging medallion, and I forced my panic back.

Yet no color or animal appeared.

One of the other girls let out a low cry as her medallion turned teal with the image of a bear outlined in brown.

My medallion still did nothing . I didn't even count.

I was always overlooked, and now I knew why. My role had always been to support my alpha and pack mates. And now, here I was, alone with nothing to keep me alive. Maybe I should just lie down and give up.

Ember’s voice rang in my head. Get up and show them what I see in you, Briar. Your alpha is also your father, and we don’t come from a weak line. Your wolf and I will always have your back. Never doubt that.

She’d said that to me when I was sixteen and hadn’t known how to handle going to school with humans. Knowing she’d taken the time to walk me through it had pushed me to be stronger. But here, I was alone.

A lump grew in my throat, so large that I couldn’t swallow.

“What do you plan to do?” Aelir asked, bringing me back to the present.

My heart twisted with a different resolve. Aelir was looking for guidance from me, and I couldn’t let her down. So what if my medallion didn’t do a damn thing? I’d prove whatever fueled it wrong and help someone in the process. Even if I died, I wouldn’t let them have the satisfaction of seeing me lose myself. I wasn't going to die with my tail between my legs, and I wasn’t going to let them see me break.

One of the servants near me handed a medallion to a tall, striking fae with vivid pink hair. Her fingers closed around it, and it lit up purple. A black wolf etched across the center.

Rhielle.

Her eyes met mine with fierce defiance. The brief nod of acknowledgement was not calm and composed. Her look said I have more important threats to focus on .

My gaze swept across the others. Nearly every girl clutched a glowing medallion with an animal. Each lit medallion felt like a blow. One girl was teal with an eagle. Another purple with a serpent.

And then I noticed something else, my hand clenching.

I wasn’t alone in the darkness.

Four other girls had the same clear medallions, empty of light, although each of theirs had an animal etched on it. A hint of shock marred their features as they looked around, frightened, though they tried to hide it.

Vyraetos’s voice echoed through the hall, drowning out every thought and breath I had. “The light glowing from your medallion represents the strength of your magic. Purple identifies the candidates with the strongest power, while teal represents moderate. Pink is for the weakest candidates, and the unlit ones are the individuals who have unknown power. The unknowns have had their strength and magic masked, so no one here can see it. Aligning with someone of unknown power may be wise or foolish. You decide.”

My magic was...masked? I turned to Aelir, but the man continued.

“Most of you will not survive long during this trial. Creatures will be constantly attacking you, and they will only get worse.

“The hall contains five circular platforms that you can use for shelter, and before the worst of the trial begins, shields will emerge and cover each platform. The strength of each shield will depend on your base magical power, which will be the average power of all those within your circle. You will also be able to gather crystals located throughout the hall, to further charge the shield and protect your platform. Even the weakest can survive if you find enough crystals and bring them to the center of your circle to strengthen the shield. Each time you add a crystal, the light of the shield will indicate how much stronger the shield is. Everyone must gather at least one crystal for the shield to protect you. Otherwise, the shield will expel you from the platform.

“You will have an undisclosed amount of time to prepare and gather crystals. Use your time wisely, and be careful of your wings. When the first gong rings, you’ll have one minute to return to your platform before the shields go up and the worst of the attacks begin. A second, softer gong will ring at the thirty-second mark.”

Great. I had unknown power, which probably meant I had none, and no one would want to be on a platform with me.

The walls seemed to close in on me as I realized how much of a disadvantage I was at.

Vyraetos waved a hand. “Even those occupying fully charged platforms will have to fight for their lives. If you leave the shield after it’s up, its protection will not extend past the platform, so you’ll be unprotected until you return. If the shield weakens too much, then it will collapse, and you will die if you cannot reach and be accepted by a different platform before the beasts destroy you.

“There is also no certainty as to how long each shield will hold. The stronger your circle, the longer you will endure. If you need to change platforms, be aware that you will need to bring a crystal with you. It’s best not to be caught outside once the shields go up. This trial will go on for an undisclosed time, and your goal is to survive.”

The room seemed to spin, and I felt like I had drunk too much wolfsbane. My wolf growled in anger beneath the panic, and I clung to that with everything I had.

I would not be the first to break.

Aelir’s trembling hand reached for mine. She was as pale as a ghost, her eyes wide with fear. “This is the end.”

I shook my head, trying to keep my voice steady. “No. We can do this. I promise to look after you.” I swallowed hard. “You can stay on the platform, and I’ll get the crystals.”

“You’ll be killed.” Her voice was barely a thready rasp above silence. She stared at the unlit medallion in my hand.

“You have your medallion. I’ll be okay.” I prayed to Fate that I could be as brave as I pretended.

Vyraetos raised his hand yet again, his voice booming. “You will enter the hall in groups of four. They have been selected at random by lottery.” He picked up a slip of parchment and looked at the other figures behind him. “Have the groups been properly randomized?”

“Yes,” came a softer voice, and the scent of sulfur infused the air. My stomach turned at the smell of a lie, but I didn’t know who it came from.

“Kaylen. Malron. Sasha. Calla Lily.” Vyraetos called. “You four will be the first to enter.”

Kaylen moved with purpose, the gleam of satisfaction in her eye. Her hair and wings shone silver against the dark leather she wore, her sleeves golden. She was first in everything. Did that mean she was the strongest?

She and the other girls stepped to the center of the shadowy wolf on the floor. The animal’s eyes blazed crimson, and then darkness swirled around them, devouring their bodies in the blink of an eye. I gasped, gripping my medallion so hard that the edge bit into my skin. No heat. No chill. No warning. Only the bitter scent of metal and stone left behind as they vanished.

My pulse raced, but there was no turning back now. I had no way home, and I suspected if I did find a way, Dipshit and Asshole would be close behind, blinding me stark white and bringing me back here. Besides, they all thought I was weak—I couldn’t let them think I was a coward.

“Briar. Deallan. Ceana. Siray.”

My knees went weak, and my throat closed off. I forced myself to breathe, though a part of me wanted to turn and run away. Still, I held my head high. These bastards wouldn’t get to enjoy me dying without a fight.

Siray looked like a sleek panther, her eyes bright with fire. She hadn’t said a word at dinner, but I remembered her laughter. Her dress last night had been designed in deep reds and golds, coordinating with her confident glare. She hadn’t spoken much, which meant she was likely more deadly than Kaylen. I took in the dragon-like animal on her medallion along with the purple glowing behind it.

Ceana and Deallan had been more direct with their cruelty.

Deallan grinned wickedly. Her bright pink eyes fixed on me with burning hatred. A brown bear decorated her medallion, highlighted by purple. “Told you you’d regret this,” she hissed.

“Looks like we get the honor of killing her. I want to be the first one to attack.” Ceana’s voice chimed in, sing-song and cruel. A golden eagle adorned her chest with the same damn purple light.

The mean girls were some of the most powerful here. Figured. I set my jaw and placed my medallion in my top’s hollow, flat spot above my breasts, trying to appear unbothered despite the chilling of my blood. They wanted to see me crumble, and I wanted to see them burn. “We’ll see who regrets what.”

“Do you want to be in my circle?” Siray asked the other two, her words precise and measured. “I don’t want any dead weight. But maybe we should let her get a few crystals first. At least then we can be amused.”

All three of them laughed, and the sound rang in my ears as they moved into the circle.

Still, they weren’t done. “Would you like to join us?” Ceana placed a hand over her heart, but the edges of her lips tipped upward. “It may be the only offer you get.”

Aelir’s hand slipped away from mine as I took a step forward. My heart pounded as I approached the dark logo with the wolf leering up at me. Of course they’d pair me with these awful ladies. Still, I did what I suspected Ember would do. I smiled back. “Gonna have to pass.”

“Are you seriously rejecting us? ” Deallan’s head tilted back as the shadow surged around us. “That’s insulting.”

“I’m sure you’ve heard worse.” I tilted my head and saluted her.

Her eyes widened, but before she could move, the shadow swallowed us whole.

I screamed as the floor disappeared from underneath me.