Page 9

Ada

I awoke slowly, my body aching from the magical strain of our confrontation.

The unfamiliar chamber was bathed in the dim light of shadow-fire torches, their cold flames casting dancing shadows across obsidian walls.

For a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was—then it all came flooding back.

Hakan. The binding. My imprisonment in his fortress.

Melo was already awake, pacing anxiously by the window. The moment she saw my eyes open, she bounded over, her turquoise eyes bright with urgent news.

“Ada, thank the gods you’re awake. I have a word from Nadine,” she said, her mental voice tight with barely contained excitement. “About Kiraz.”

My heart leaped into my throat. I sat up too quickly, quickly and my head spun. “What? Tell me everything.”

Melo padded over, a tiny scroll concealed in the fur around her neck. I quickly retrieved it with trembling hands, unrolling the minuscule parchment.

K is safe. Missing you desperately. Full moon brings opportunity. Be ready. —N

Relief flooded through me so powerfully, I nearly wept. Kiraz was safe. My daughter was alive and protected. The Shadow Festival, a week away, would distract Hakan and his court with ancient rituals; that night was the full moon.

“Seven days.” I burned the message with a touch of light magic. “We just need to survive until then.”

I rose from the bed, my legs unsteady, and walked to the ornate mirror mounted on the far wall. Dark circles shadowed my eyes, and I looked pale, almost translucent in the strange light. I traced my fingers over my throat, checking for any marks from yesterday’s confrontation with Hakan.

The memory quickened my pulse—not because of desire, but because of the raw violence in his eyes when I’d driven that makeshift stake into his chest. The moment when his hand had closed around my throat hadn’t been passionate—it had been a warning, a demonstration of his power over me.

The fact that he’d released me instead of crushing my windpipe had been mercy, nothing more.

“You were restless in your sleep,” Melo observed. “Dreams again?”

“Memories.” I turned away from the mirror. “Yesterday was…unfortunate.”

Melo snorted. “You stabbed him. I’d call that a good start.”

“I lost control.” I hated the admission. “I can’t afford to do that again.”

It was then that I noticed the black gown laid across the foot of my bed—heavy silk embroidered with shadow sigils, meant for the court gathering that evening. The dress was beautiful in its own dark way, designed to showcase my position as Hakan’s bound partner. As the Golge Hanim.

“When did this arrive?” I fingered the rich fabric.

“This morning, along with the rest of your belongings,” Melo replied. “That Sarp fellow had them retrieved from your uncle’s house. Quite efficient, really. Though the servants who delivered everything looked terrified the entire time.”

I moved to the wardrobe and opened it, surprised to find my clothes neatly arranged inside. Everything was there—my gowns, my books, even my jewelry box. It felt surreal seeing my life from the Light Court transplanted into this shadow realm.

I had no intention of wearing the black gown.

“They left that monstrosity at dawn,” Melo said, curled at the window seat. “Along with minions who instructed me on the ‘proper manner’ to address my new master.” Her turquoise eyes gleamed with mischief. “I may have suggested some anatomically impossible activities for them to attempt.”

I smiled despite everything. The message from Nadine had given me the strength I needed. Seven days until the full moon. Seven days until I could escape this gilded prison and return to my daughter.

I paced my chambers, calculating risks. Defiance was dangerous, but submission was unthinkable.

If Hakan wanted to parade me before his court, I would use the opportunity to show them I wasn’t just another conquest. I needed them to see me as Gün Ata’s daughter, heir to divine light—not merely Hakan’s bound consort. It was a gamble, but one I had to take.

I told myself the balance of power here was delicate, that I was being strategic, but the truth was simpler and more dangerous—I was acting on pure emotion, letting my rage override caution.

Every choice tonight was driven by my need to hurt him as he’d hurt me.

If I could plant seeds of doubt about the permanence of our bond, it might offer me protection.

At the very least, it would remind Hakan that I wasn’t so easily controlled.

I searched through my belongings until I found what I was looking for—a gown of pale- blue silk, simple but undeniably of Light Court design. I’d brought it for my honeymoon with Deniz, never imagining I’d wear it here, in the heart of shadow.

“Oh, he’s going to be livid when he sees you in it,” Melo said appreciatively.

“Good.” I laid out the dress. “It’s time to remind him who exactly he’s bound himself to.”

“Some of these shadow lords would happily see you disposed of.”

“Let them try,” I said, my light magic flaring briefly at my fingertips.

Light magic responded to emotion, flowing through my veins like liquid sunlight. The binding with Hakan had unexpectedly stabilized my power—shadow and light creating balance rather than chaos. Against shadow magic, it created a unique friction…

“They might discover that light burns as readily as shadow consumes,” I said, my voice hard with determination.

The murmur of conversation died when I entered the great hall. The Shadow Court elite had gathered in their finest, dark garments rippling with embedded magic and power.

And there I stood in pale-blue silk, my father’s light sigil openly displayed at my throat.

Sarp spotted me first, choking slightly on his drink before breaking into a broad grin. He nudged Hakan, who was deep in conversation with Lord Kaya.

Hakan turned, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. His expression remained neutral, but suddenly?—

TAKE IT OFF. NOW.

The command slammed into my consciousness with brutal force. Our bond was still new and unstable—in his extreme emotional state, his fury had triggered the deeper layer of connection, allowing not just emotions but the sharp edge of his wrath to transfer as physical sensation.

The protective magic within the binding recoiled against his attempt to use our connection as a weapon, sending an echo of pain back to him that made his shadows flicker with uncertainty.

I physically flinched while his voice thundered through our connection, invasive and overwhelming.

Get out of my head, I managed to respond, struggling to maintain my composure while my heart hammered.

You will turn around, go back to your fucking chambers, and change into something appropriate, he commanded, each word precise and razor-edged. Or I will burn that dress off you in front of everyone here.

His fury was so intense it triggered the bond's deeper layer—what should have been mere emotion became searing heat across my skin.

But the binding's protective magic immediately retaliated, sending a wave of backlash through our connection that left him staggering slightly, his shadows wavering as pain lanced through him in return.

I gasped audibly, drawing curious glances. The sheer audacity of the attack stunned me. He hadn’t just threatened—he had acted, using our connection as a weapon.

“Ah, the lady honors us with her presence,” Lord Kaya said, his tone carefully diplomatic despite my obvious discomfort.

Through sheer force of will, I kept my expression neutral and stepped farther into the room. Touch me like that again , I projected back. I infused my thoughts with deadly promise, and I will show you exactly how much damage light can do to shadow. Bond or no bond.

“I wouldn’t miss it,” I said, my voice remarkably steady. “One should know one’s…neighbors.”

You have ten seconds to leave. Hakan’s mental voice was colder than I’d ever heard it. Or I will make tonight memorable in ways you cannot imagine.

I’ve survived worse than you, I countered, keeping my thoughts carefully guarded. He would never know how thoroughly he had broken me.

Another flash of pain—this time like needles of ice driving into my nerve endings. I bit my lip to keep from crying out.

That wasn’t my worst , he promised darkly. Not even close.

“Indeed.” Kaya’s gaze flicked to my dress, then to Hakan. “Though it seems you’ve brought a bit of the light realm with you.”

“Some things aren’t so easily left behind.” I focused on keeping my voice level while raw hatred surged through me.

Hakan moved toward me with liquid grace, shadows swirling subtly around him. When he reached me, he caught my hand and raised it to his lips in what appeared to be a gesture of affection. His grip was iron, his eyes glacial.

“You look lovely, wife,” he said, voice pitched for public consumption, while another wave of shadow magic brushed against my mind—this time not pain, but a cold, creeping sensation like fingers of darkness probing for weakness.

Stop fighting me , his voice commanded in my head. You belong to me now.

I met his gaze, letting him see the depth of my loathing but nothing of my pain. I will never belong to you. I would rather die.

Instead of his previous cruel response, something darker flickered in his eyes. Then you’ll suffer in the most exquisite ways until you learn otherwise.

“Thank you, husband,” I said through gritted teeth. “I thought it important to remember who I am.”

He guided me through the gathering, his hand at the small of my back both possessive and threatening. Each touch reinforced the implicit threat—he could reach me anytime, anywhere, through our bond.

This was not the boy I had grown up with, not even the young man who had broken my heart. This was something else entirely—a creature of shadow and cruelty who viewed our connection as merely another tool for control.