Page 16 of Claimed By Shadow and Blood (Of Fae and Wolf Trilogy #2)

With each word Thalen spoke, my blood seared hotter and hotter, thundering in my ears.

My shadows flared, and my wings tensed, intensifying the darkness.

The need to kill and seek vengeance pulsed within me, and my mind flashed up images of this man dead on the floor with his throat ripped out and his spine snapped.

Acid rose in my throat along with the hatred.

“It was—it was—” He strained as the impacts of the vow pressed against him and the lie he debated speaking into existence pained him.

“Why would you call her such things?” I spoke each word with piercing clarity and hoped that the terror was already ripping him apart.

He squirmed in the chair, and the wood squeaked. He couldn’t get any traction with his feet, and his fingers twitched.

“Well?”

He paled even more, his complexion now like parchment paper.

A vein in his temple throbbed. “One of the Aureline Councilmembers instructed us to be prepared in case we were summoned, and we were told to stay close. He said that we were to take a prisoner away immediately, no matter what else was said.”

“Who told you this?” I demanded as my claws cut deeper into his skin. Blood blossomed along his shoulders, and he began to stink of fear.

“I—I couldn’t see his face, but he was one of the younger members. He wore gray leather gloves. Maybe sealskin. There was nothing notable about him.”

“Was he in the garden with us?” I didn’t loosen my grip, but I didn’t push my claws deeper either.

“M-maybe? I don’t know. I swear I don’t know.” He winced as if preparing for a blow.

“What about the Shadow Councilmember who was with him?”

“I don’t know him either.” Deln stared up at me with white-rimmed eyes, his pulse thundering in that vein. “I don’t know any of their names. No one ever gave them. The council member just told us to come to the northern entrance of the garden because there would be a situation.”

“When did you receive this instruction?” I demanded.

“Perhaps an hour before midnight. Maybe a little after. I don’t know the exact time.”

“Were you on duty?”

“Preparing to start at the second watch,” His breathing turned labored.

“He said that we were to report at the garden’s entrance and be prepared for the signal.

” He tensed and leaned in, trying to ease the pressure on his shoulder from my claws and grip.

“The signal came through a voidglass coin. Two flashes of light.”

“Was there talk of Briar before this?” I released his shoulder and slowly walked around him again. My shadows branched off, three morphing into sharp spear-like formations and posing themselves at his jugular, the base of his throat, and along that throbbing vein.

His jaw worked. “Y—yes.” Another nervous swallow and tightening of his body spoke as plainly as his words.

I returned to stand before him again and spoke in a low tone. “And what was said of her?”

“I want it to be clear that I didn’t say this—the Aureline Councilmember said that she was a ruinous wretch and that her existence was a blight upon every fae realm, and she had to be removed for the good of all fae."

“Was there ever more than one council member present?” I seethed.

“Not that I saw.”

“Were you aware of any others involved?”

He moistened his lips again. “Th—there are several, based on what they said. I overheard some conversations. They said Vyraetos was a fool and would lead the Shadow Kingdom to its doom, but his disappearance would be too suspicious. And they said Briar was…a death trap for our people here. The Aureline Council is divided.”

Nothing new there. I crossed my arms as I stared down at him. “What reason was given for their hatred of Briar?” My shadows brandished in front of him, two turning into slick, sleek blades.

“She isn’t one of us. She isn’t fae.” He stumbled over the words. “Now, please let me go. I’m sorry for not heeding your order, but I swear I will be?—”

I jammed my hand over his mouth as I leaned closer. My fingers dug into his cheeks. “Briar is your future queen. And you betrayed her as much as you did me and my father, your king. You were a part of his assassination. So do not dare to speak of loyalty now.”

He trembled violently, and it would have been so easy to snap his neck in that breath. But there was one more thing I needed to know. “What prison did you take her to?” I moved my hand so he could speak, though I still gripped his face.

A low panicked groan rose in his throat, and his muscles tightened. Of all the things I had asked, this was the one he most wanted to avoid. Probably because he had been bound in some way to hide it, or because he had been threatened with grave consequences if he spoke.

And that made sense.

After all, the Aurelines could not deny the visit of a ruler for whom they were conducting an investigation without good reason, and there was no good reason to deny me in this case.

But they could hide the name of the prison and delay my reaching her, as Vyraetos had warned. Formal inquiries could take days.

I released his face and stepped back, then I clasped my arms behind my back and set my shadows to split and rear before him in dozens of needle-like blades that glistened as if coated in venom. “Answer me, Deln, or these shadows will enter your veins and drag the truth from you.”

“Your Highness, please —” He strained back, but the chair remained bolted to the stone even though the wood creaked under his weight.

“Answer me!” My rage flared hotter and choked me.

This worm planned to withhold the location.

My stomach twisted, and the power that flared through me intensified beyond what I had ever experienced.

Three of the needle-like shadows plunged into him, one in each shoulder and one in the center of his chest. His body convulsed, and he screamed in agony.

My shadows sliced deeper, piercing into his veins in ways that would maximize pain without risking his life.

“I am more than happy to cut the truth out of you, and my associate has already identified your partner in this crime. So you are not essential.” Two more of my shadows plunged into his chest. I only guided them with general will as I let my shadow magic take control.

The heat of his blood was nothing compared to the ice of my shadows, the piercing precision of my magic spreading beneath his skin like liquid frost. His eyes rolled back, and saliva pooled at the corners of his mouth, mixing with the blood.

I drew the shadows back and left behind wounds that looked deceptively small. Letting him die now would be a waste—one I would enjoy but couldn’t afford. Not yet.

He gasped and sobbed through the pain. “Don’t make me answer, please!”

I struck him across the face, disgusted with his plea.

He was one of the people responsible for Briar’s abduction.

She was probably being tortured far worse than this, and she didn’t deserve one moment of pain or fear.

“Answer. This is your last chance.” I grabbed him by the face, my claws emerging and digging into his cheeks as I swept my shadows up.

Two pierced him in the chest as he screeched.

Veins bulged along his neck, and he twisted back as far as he could.

I let another two shadow needles lance through him, just under his ribs on either side.

The chair jolted, wood shuddering beneath his spasms, but I gave him no relief. He deserved nothing but pain, and a vicious need to hurt him more blossomed within me. If I knew what Briar was suffering, I’d make him endure the same. But as I didn’t know, I let my imagination and shadows guide me.

“Last chance,” I snarled. A single needle of a shadow curled up over his face and stopped over his eye. His pupils widened. “Firellan’s Spine!” The words tore out of his mouth as he sobbed brokenly.

My spine locked, and I almost snapped his neck.