Page 51

Ada

I stood outside the great hall of the Shadow Court, listening to the low rumble of male voices discussing battle strategies and troop movements. A meeting I hadn’t been invited to, despite our supposed truce. Despite the fact that these plans directly affected the light realm—my home.

My light magic sparked irritably at my fingertips. Six days into our agreement, Hakan was already reverting to type, making decisions without me, keeping me at arm’s length except when he needed something. With only two days remaining until the solstice ritual, we couldn’t afford such divisions.

Enough of that.

I pushed open the massive doors without ceremony.

Conversation ceased instantly as every head turned toward me.

Six shadow lords sat around a vast obsidian table covered in maps and tactical markers.

Hakan stood at the head, hands braced on the table’s edge, his expression darkening at the sight of me.

Only Sarp, lounging in a chair near the far end, seemed unsurprised by my entrance.

“Lady Ada,” one of the shadow lords began awkwardly. “This is a private?—”

“A private meeting about Midas’s forces moving against the light realm,” I finished for him, and strode forward. “Which, last I checked, directly concerns me.”

Hakan’s jaw tightened. “We were discussing troop movements, not policy. There was no need to involve you.”

“No need?” I laughed, the sound sharp in the cavernous space.

“You’re planning military action that affects my homeland, and there’s ‘no need’ to involve me?

I may have been away for weeks, but I’m still a representative of the Light Court, daughter to its former ruler.

These are my people you’re discussing so casually. ”

The shadow lords exchanged uncomfortable glances.

They were an imposing group—all ancient bloodlines and barely contained power.

Under different circumstances, I might have been intimidated.

But I’d spent the past five days studying ancient texts with Hakan, preparing for a ritual that might kill us both.

These men’s disapproval seemed trivial by comparison.

I pulled out an empty chair beside Sarp and sat. “Please, continue. I’d love to hear your strategy for dealing with Midas.”

Hakan’s eyes narrowed, cold fire dancing in their depths.

After a momentary standoff, he resumed his briefing.

“As I was saying, Midas has positioned three hundred troops along the southern border of the light realm. Our intelligence suggests he plans to move within the next forty-eight hours, exploiting the power vacuum left by Gün Ata’s ascension to the celestial realm and the Light Court’s transition period. ”

I flinched at the casual mention of my father, dead these past five years. The shadow lords noted my reaction with predatory interest.

“And how, exactly, did Midas learn of our movements so quickly?” Sarp interrupted, and leaned forward. “This is the third time his forces have anticipated our strategies.”

An older shadow lord cleared his throat. “We may have a breach in our intelligence networks. Midas has been unusually well-informed.”

“All the more reason for caution,” Hakan continued. “Our plan is direct but effective. A strike force will infiltrate their command post tonight, eliminate their leadership, and sow enough confusion to force a retreat.”

“Eliminate?” I interjected. “You mean assassinate.”

Hakan met my gaze steadily. “I mean prevent an invasion that would cost far more lives in the long run.”

“And who, exactly, comprises this ‘small strike force’?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.

“Myself, Sarp, and four of our elite shadow warriors,” Hakan replied. “We move within the hour.”

“I’m coming with you,” I said.

The words dropped into the room as stones into still water, creating ripples of shocked silence. Hakan’s expression shifted from annoyance to something harder.

“No,” he said. “You’re not.”

“We have an agreement,” I reminded him, and kept my voice level despite the anger building beneath my skin. “Complete access to all information, all plans. No more secrets. I’d say a military operation against Midas falls under that umbrella.”

“Access to information, yes. Participation in high-risk combat operations, no.” Hakan’s tone left no room for argument. “You’ll remain here, where it’s safe.”

“This isn’t just any mission,” Sarp added, uncharacteristically serious.

“Midas’s gold magic is unique—it transforms shadows into solid gold, freezing and neutralizing shadow magic on contact.

It’s why Erlik kept him as his general for centuries— he’s one of the few beings who can directly counter shadow lords.

It’s why we need a small team—speed and stealth are our only advantages against someone who can literally turn our power against us. ”

“And light magic?” I countered. “Has Midas found a way to counter that, too?”

Sarp exchanged a glance with Hakan. “Not that we know of.”

I stood slowly, light magic gathering around me. “Then I’m your tactical advantage. I wasn’t asking permission.”

“This meeting is concluded,” Hakan announced, his voice abrupt. “We depart in thirty minutes. Lady Ada will remain in the Shadow Court.”

The shadow lords filed out quickly, relief evident in their hasty departures. Only Sarp remained, watching the unfolding drama with undisguised fascination.

“You’re not coming, Ada,” Hakan said once we were alone. “That’s final.”

“Our agreement?—”

"Our agreement doesn't obligate me to risk your life unnecessarily!" His voice cut sharp and cold. "You're staying here."

"You don't get to decide that for me." I stepped closer, my light flaring with my rising anger.

"I just did." He pivoted away from me, a clear dismissal. "Guards will be posted at your chambers."

"You're imprisoning me now? After everything we've discussed about trust?"

He didn't face me. "Call it what you want. You'll thank me when you're still alive to complete the ritual."

That did it. My light exploded outward in a concentrated burst, striking him squarely between the shoulders. He staggered forward, caught off guard by the attack, before spinning to face me, eyes blazing with cold fire.

“That won’t change my decision,” he growled, shadows gathering around his clenched fists.

“I’m not your prisoner,” I spit. “I’m not your subject. And I’m sure as hell not your wife anymore.”

Outside, the storm began to subside, as if it had spent its fury alongside our own.

I remembered reading about this phenomenon in the ancient texts—how powerful magic users, particularly those with complementary powers like shadow and light, could inadvertently affect natural elements during intense emotional states.

Our unchecked anger had literally created a tempest.

“This isn’t a game, Ada.” He stalked toward me, each step bringing the temperature in the room lower. “This is war. There are too many risks. You’ll get yourself killed.”

“Worried about losing your power source?” I taunted, and refused to back away as he advanced.

His hand shot out, and gripped my upper arm. “You think that’s all this is about? Power?”

“Isn’t it?” I twisted in his grip. “It’s all it’s ever been about with you.”

A muscle worked in his jaw as he fought for control. “You have no idea what this is about.”

“Then enlighten me,” I challenged, my face inches from his. “Explain why you get to make unilateral decisions about my life, five years after you abandoned me.”

His grip tightened momentarily before he shoved away from me, turning toward the door. “We’re done here.”

I launched another bolt of light, this one clipping his shoulder. “We’re not done until I say we’re done.”

He turned slowly, shadows swirling dangerously around him. The room darkened as if night had suddenly fallen, my light the only source of illumination. “Are you actually trying to fight me, Ada?”

“If that’s what it takes to make you listen.”

The air between us crackled with opposing magic. Outside, the storm intensified, lightning flashing across the rapidly blackening sky. The pressure built in the atmosphere, like the moment when a devastating storm was about to break.

Hakan moved with inhuman speed, crossing the space between us instantly. His hand closed around my throat, not squeezing, but a clear threat.

“You want me to listen?” he snarled. “Fine. I’m listening. Tell me why I should risk the entire ritual, risk everything I’ve worked for, just to satisfy your pride.”

“Get your hand off me,” I warned, light gathering at my fingertips.

“Or what?” His face was so close his cold breath ghosted against my skin. “You’ll strike me again?” His voice dropped lower, rougher. “This anger between us—it’s awakening something primal.”

His admission sent a jolt of unwanted desire through my core.

Damn it, why did he have to smell so good?

I was furious at myself for being so weak.

I released the light I’d been gathering, not as a bolt but as a concentrated pulse that traveled through every point of contact between us.

Hakan recoiled in pain, his shadows writhing wildly.

“I’ll never let you touch me again,” I hissed, fingers still tingling from the release of power.

The storm outside broke with spectacular violence. Rain lashed against the windows, driven by howling winds. Lightning split the sky in jagged bursts, thunder shaking the very foundations of the castle.

“Why are you doing this?” he demanded, genuine confusion breaking through his anger. “Why risk your life unnecessarily?”

"I'm trying to make sure we succeed," I shot back. "But I won't let you use this crisis to reassert control over me. We either work as equals, or we fail together."

“This isn’t about control!” He slammed his fist into the wall beside my head, stone cracking under the impact. “This is about keeping you alive!”

“Why do you even care?” I demanded. I refused to be intimidated by his display of strength.