Page 7 of Claimed By Shadow and Blood (Of Fae and Wolf Trilogy #2)

The timeline didn’t match up with Father’s death and the removal of his power, and the resulting instability of our kingdom’s power, to be the sole source of her decline.

Had someone tried to hurt Elara, or was it bad timing or connected in another way?

“Why didn’t you tell me what was happening? ” I demanded, taking a step forward.

“You were with Briar.” Though he said the words in that quiet tone, his jaw tightened. I could guess what he was implying.

I lifted my chin, the muscles clenching and ticking beneath my skin. “You should have informed me. Is she sleeping now?”

As he nodded, his arms remained straight at his sides, and he did not move from the door.

A small frown creased his brow. His polished boots bunched the thick gold and black rug that ran the length of the hallway until he smoothed it back in place with his right foot.

“Yes. And she should continue to rest. Physician Tai ensured the nightmares would not trouble her, but if you wake her, she won’t be able to rest at all. Why…what’s happened?”

The question hung in the air like a door blade poised to drop. I couldn't avoid it any longer, though speaking it aloud would make it real in a way that threatened to shatter what little control I'd managed to claw back.

"Father is dead." The words came out flat, emotionless. It was the only way I could say them without my voice cracking. "Murdered in the garden.”

Silus’s throat bobbed, but his lips stayed pressed in a tight line. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper. "How?"

"A dagger to the heart. His personal guard was slaughtered, and the guards in the guest wing were enchanted." I forced myself to continue despite my throat trying to close. "Briar was found beside his body. The Aureline Council has taken her into custody and is claiming jurisdiction."

His expression shifted from shock to something harder.

His dark, feathered wings tensed as if preparing to unfurl.

"She was found beside his body?" His voice dropped low, dangerous.

"Of course she was. An outsider who can turn into a shadow beast—" he spat the words as his lips curled "—who appears from nowhere, and now the king—your father—is dead?

And you can't see what's right in front of you? "

The accusation slammed into me like a physical blow. My shadows erupted without warning, coiling around my arms and spreading across the floor like spilled ink. "Be careful how you speak of my beloved and your future queen, Silus."

"No." He stepped forward, away from Elara's door, his usual calm shattered. "I warned you this would happen. That she was unpredictable and dangerous. Your father lies dead, and you defend this woman? She bewitched you, made you weak, made you blind?—"

"Enough!" The word tore from my chest as my wings flared and my shadows lashed out, scoring deep grooves in the marble walls. The temperature in the corridor plummeted, frost spreading from where I stood as my magic surged and waned, then surged again. Nausea cut into my stomach like blades. I was losing control, and I didn’t care. "You dare accuse her?”

Silus's wings snapped fully open, the charcoal feathers catching what little light remained in the corridor.

His face had tightened into cold calculation mixed with barely restrained fury.

"I dare speak the truth you refuse to see," he growled.

"Even if she didn't wield the blade herself, your father is dead because of her.

Because of what she represents. Because of what you were planning to do for her.

And now Elara suffers because of her as well. "

My spine locked. "What are you implying?" My shadows coiled and spiraled, threatening to explode out again. “Speak plainly.”

Silus met my gaze. "You were going to defy them all. The Shadow Council, the Aureline Council—you were going to choose her. A beast changer with no fae magic, no lineage, no right to our throne. Just like your father did when he chose your mother, a woman without noble blood. Do you really think that the councils would allow that without consequence? Your father suspected there was more to your mother's death than it seemed. Her death was a warning, plain and simple. Your father defied Fate and the councils to marry your mother, and now you’re planning to do the same. Do you think whoever is behind this will stop here? That they won’t use your decision to prove you’re not fit to rule when you come apart because you can’t have the one you want?

That they won’t go further and destroy Elara as well?

How dare you cast aside your duty to this kingdom and your true family in favor of some common?—"

Red exploded around my eyes. I seized his throat, hauled him forward, and then slammed him backward into the wall. A heavy thwack resounded, and his leg clipped an ornate black and gold vase that spun and crashed. Porcelain exploded across the floor in a thousand glittering shards.

"You dare to speak of my family and Briar in such a manner?

" I snarled, my shadows erupting from every surface, wild and uncontrolled.

They lashed out and scored deep gouges in the walls, shredding portraits, tearing through rugs, and grating across marble.

One of my own tendrils whipped across my face and sliced my cheek.

Silus's hands flew up to grip my wrists.

His dark eyes bored into mine with an intensity that matched my own fury.

"I dare because someone has to," he choked out.

"Your father is dead. Elara grows weaker by the day.

And you—you're so consumed by this outsider that you can't see the knife aimed at your own throat! "

"She is not responsible!" I snarled. “And I will kill anyone who claims she is, including you.”

“It doesn’t matter!” Silus strained to speak as my fingers squeezed tighter. “They’re either using her to destroy you or sending you a warning. Either way, your enemies will destroy everything!”

“Not if I destroy them first.” My shadows swirled. I wanted to crush his windpipe, to watch the light fade from his eyes for daring to speak ill of Briar and invoking my mother’s death.

His hands tightened on my wrists. A thousand memories flashed through my mind of all the time Silus, Thalen, and I had spent together as friends.

The first time Thalen discovered moon whiskey and brought it to where we were playing beyond the fountain, when we all drank until our heads spun and we vomited in the lilies and ferns.

The many times we had sparred and challenged one another as we felt out our different powers and learned to parry and strike using earth or shadow or air or just the basic fae magic and combat skills.

The one time we'd gotten stranded because we'd slipped through the veil and had to use our skills to survive despite being children in a hostile wilderness.

The three of us had been inseparable. But that was not how it was now.

Cold descended upon me, but those memories stayed my hand. I thought of Briar. She wouldn't want me to do this, for my own sake and to spare me future regrets, though not for Silus’s safety.

Releasing Silus, I stepped back, my blood still vibrating with rage.

My shadows trembled, ready to attack, but they, too, obeyed me.

"Get out of my sight and stay out of my way.

I will be civil with you in public for my sister's sake and her feelings for you, and I will not speak of this freely unless I must. But if you ever speak against Briar again, I will rip out your throat and feed it to the shadow beasts.”

Silus slumped and then flung his arm up to grip the wall and steady himself. He massaged his throat as he stared at me, his brows drawn up and pain in his eyes. “All I want is?—”

“I know what you want, but you’re wrong about Briar, and I will prove it to you. My focus is on saving her, making her my queen, protecting my family, and saving this kingdom. As your prince and soon your king, I will not tolerate any more disrespect. Now go.”

His jaw clenched. Then he bowed his head. “As you say, Your Highness.” He strode away, his posture rigid.

I remained motionless at Elara’s door, grateful she slept so deeply that she hadn’t heard our confrontation.

Though I did not want anyone else to tell her about Father, I couldn't bring myself to wake her.

Instead, I traced a shadow sigil on her door to alert me when she opened it, and I strengthened all the protections that were currently in place around her room and the royal family's wing.

I'd check on her in the morning. Tonight, she could get her rest. There would likely be many sleepless nights after this.

At least, while she rested, she would be in the shadows and drawing up her strength.

I turned back down the hall, my head pounding. Sleep would not come to me tonight. Not unless I took something, and I couldn't risk dulling my senses right now. Instead of going to my own room, I continued to the observatory.

What if I had insisted Briar stay in the observatory with me and wait? Told her that she belonged in my chambers even if I had to leave for a while? I hated myself for not insisting. Stubborn as she was, I should have protected her. And these fiends were trying to use that love against me.

The heavy, dark door loomed over me, the coiled markings etched into the stone seeming to judge me almost as harshly as I judged myself. Here, I'd be able to plan and determine the best course for returning Briar to my side, crowning her my queen, and protecting my family.

I turned the handle and pressed the door open. It yielded easily, but then I froze, catching the scent of dried blood, smoky vetiver, and charred balsam. Three dark-gray-robed figures stood in the center of the observatory near my telescope.

My wings flared, and my shoulders tensed. "What are you doing in my private sanctum?" I demanded. This wasn't the complete Shadow Council, and I had certainly not approved anyone coming here.

Vyraetos stepped forward, his withered hands unmistakable as he pressed them palm to palm. "Your Highness, we must speak. Immediately."