Page 33 of Daughter of Shadows and Ash (Araceli’s Blade #1)

W ithout wasting another breath, I whirled back toward the celebration.

Oryn and Kyler still chatted near the head table, while the revelers had succumbed to raucous merriment. The room echoed with laughter as fae and mortals alike spun to the music, their tankards of ale and wine sloshing dangerously.

I set my sights on a hallway just to the right of the balcony area. It would be the fastest way out of here. Keeping to the shadows, I slipped past, praying my betrothed wouldn't spot me.

With each step, the cacophony of the party faded. Once I no longer could hear the music, I looked around and confirmed I'm finally alone. I brought shadows around me, covering me in darkness. Now cloaked, I ran towards the first set of stairs and continued towards the gardens. Mercifully, this part of the castle was home to straightforward passages.

My heart sank as I realized all traces of Johan had vanished, as if the wind itself had conspired to erase his existence in the brief time it took me to reach the lush gardens. I couldn't find so much as a boot print. I rushed through the main paths and checked each exit. After about twenty minutes, I had accepted he's gone without a trace. That murderous bastard was probably sleeping soundly by now, his conscience soothed by the blood money he earned from our so-called rulers.

I made my way back to the ballroom where the music had shifted to a sweet melody. Just before entering, I disbanded my shadows, the loss of them sending a shiver down my spine. I felt naked, especially in the revealing dress chosen for me. I surveyed the party, no one appeared to notice my absence. I'd feared my new status would draw unwanted attention, complicating my efforts to investigate. But the royal fae were truly wrapped up in themselves, appointing a nobody like me as the future princess was good for a laugh but not enough to halt their interests in their own quest for gaining more power in their social standing.

I returned to the dais, finding Kyler gone and in his place, a nobleman from a neighboring town speaking in hushed tones with Oryn. The male didn't see me approach from his right, but Ryn's blue eyes tracked my every step.

"…You should be marrying my Tatiana, sire. She's of noble breed, very powerful in fire magic. She would be honored to give you an heir worthy of the crown." The nobleman slurred. Ryn's gaze turned razor sharp as he seized the man's throat, lifting him until his boots barely scraped the stone floor.

"Lord Yrenez, I don't believe I asked for your choice of my wife when I asked you how the pumpkin crop was this season. I most certainly did not ask for the hand of your wretched daughter," he growled. The crowd before us hushed, the music even quieter than before. "Lady Alora was deemed chosen by the gods themselves, in more ways than one the most powerful match for me. Do you dare defy the gods."

Lord Yrenez whimpered and violently tried to shake his head, "No, sire, I misspoke-"

"If you ever speak of Lady Alora again, or bring up your wretch of an offspring, you will find yourself at the wrong end of my sword." Oryn let Yrenez go, the older male crumbling to the ground, holding a hand to his own throat and struggling to stumble away. His hunched over body disappeared into the crowd. Ryn faced the attendees, all in a trance of shock, "For anyone else who believes the gods are wrong, they are not. Lady Alora is my gods given mate." Soft cries of shock rumbled through the crowd. "She is the only one my heart and my throne will ever belong to. Anyone who turns a sharp tongue or blade against her is considered to have made that statement about the crown itself and will be punished, severely." His stare was like a shard of ice as he looked deep into the nervous souls of his gathered people. Some seemed to shift their stance, many looked down to the floor, very few were bold enough to meet his unyielding gaze.

His ferocity sent a thrill through me, and I found myself following that dull buzz, that golden thread humming between us, drawing me to his side. My hand found its way to his chest, almost of its own accord. It's like he finally took a breath and began to relax under my touch, his arm wrapping around me protectively.

The king rose from his throne and cleared his throat, "We are honored to have such a blessed union tomorrow," he raised his almost overflowing goblet of wine towards us, "To the future of Sunneva."

"Sun blessed," the crowd answered.

Oryn leaned by my ear, the warmth of his breath tickling the side of my face, "Ready to get out of here, Love?"

I nodded, letting him take his hand in mine and lead us out of the throng of drunken fae. My gaze swept the crowd, cataloging potential threats. It's clear many of them would rather see a blade in my heart than a crown on my head. A shiver ran down my spine as I caught several pairs of eyes glaring daggers at my back.