Page 16 of Eluvonia (Rift of Ages #1)

AERIS

W hen I step out of the bathroom, the first thing I notice is Kaida sprawled out on the couch.

His arms drape over the backrest, his long legs crossed casually, one over the other.

His head leans slightly back, eyes closed, the dim light catching the sharp angles of his jawline.

The black sleeveless tunic clings to his chest, accentuating the hard lines of his muscles.

He still wears the gray wraps that coil tightly from his fingertips to just below his elbows, but I can’t help noticing something dark seeping out from the top of the wraps—like shadows straining to break free.

For a moment, I’m transfixed, the sight of his shadows moving with a life of their own pulling me into some sort of hypnotic daze. They ripple, stretching toward the floor before curling back to him, a restless, sentient dance.

“Are you going to stand there and gawk at me all night?” The sudden bite of his voice startles me, making me jump.

Kaida doesn’t even bother opening his eyes at first, though he tilts his head slightly in my direction, one brow arching with lazy amusement.

Finally, he raises his head, those ice blue eyes glaring at me with just enough spite to set my teeth on edge.

“I wasn’t gawking,” I snap, crossing my arms over my new tunic.

The soft fabric brushes against my skin, and I can’t help but admire its design —cream-colored, with neat little buttons running up the front.

Paired with fitted brown pants, complete with straps and satchel-like pockets on the thighs, it’s an upgrade from the rags I was wearing before and I don’t hate it.

Kaida snorts and stands, his movements slow and deliberate, like a predator sizing up prey.

He shoves his hands into the pockets of his black pants, his shadows following him, coiling tightly around his frame as he approaches.

“Well,” he says, smirking faintly, “you smell better now. At least I can stomach being around you.”

I bite my lip to keep from snapping back, but he notices, his grin widening. “It’s bedtime, little Fae,” he announces, his tone dripping with mockery.

I scoff, rolling my eyes. “What am I, a youngling?”

“Might as well be,” he replies with a shrug, gesturing toward the bed. “Get in.”

I glance at the bed, then back at him. “This one? Where are you sleeping?” I ask, my brow furrowing.

Kaida doesn’t miss a beat. He steps over to the bed, opens a small drawer in the bedside stand, and begins rummaging. “In the bed next to you,” he says simply, his tone matter-of-fact.

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen,” I mutter, crossing my arms again.

He snorts, still digging through the drawer. “Like you have an option.”

“I’m not sleeping in the same bed as you!” I snap. “Who knows how perverted Dragons are? You’ll probably—” I cover myself dramatically for effect and shiver. Kaida straightens, holding two ropes in his hands, his expression unbothered.

I stare at the ropes. “Okay, one—what are those for? And two—” My gaze darts to the drawer he pulled them from. “Why do you have rope next to your bed?”

His eyebrow arches, his lips curling into a smug grin. “Nope!” I hold up a hand. “Never mind the second question.”

He chuckles, low and deep, and starts toward me. The sound makes my stomach churn. “You cannot be trusted,” he says, lifting the ropes slightly. “And I need my sleep. This ensures you can’t harm me or run away.”

I glare at him. “Then let me sleep in another room! Why do I need to stay here?”

Kaida scoffs, stopping just inches from me. “Because you cannot be trusted,” he repeats, his voice harder, colder. Hatred smolders in his eyes, his shadows curling tighter around his body like armor.

I start to turn away, but something cold and solid coils around my ankles.

“Wha—hey!” I yell, struggling as the shadows tighten their grip, freezing me in place.

Kaida grabs my wrists with startling speed, wrapping the rope around them and pulling it taut. Fury burns in my veins as I stare at the knots.

“Untie. Them. Now.” My voice is low, seething.

He laughs—actually laughs—in my face .

The shadows release my feet, and when I glance down, I see another set of ropes securely tied there. My jaw drops. “What the fuck—”

Kaida strides back to the bed, unconcerned. “Get in,” he orders, his tone casual.

I lift my bound wrists. “How the fuck am I supposed to do that, genius?”

He shrugs without looking back. “Hop.”

My mouth falls open. He sprawls onto the bed, hands clasped behind his head, shadows pooling around him as he crosses his ankles. A satisfied smirk tugs at his lips.

I want to throttle him.

But I glance around, weighing my options. There’s no way I can get far like this—what, hop down the hall and hope no one notices? Yeah, that’s not happening.

My eyes land on the couch by the wall. I could manage to hop there. With a resigned sigh, I start shuffling awkwardly toward it.

I make it two hops before the shadows wrap around my waist, yanking me backward with force. “Hey!” I scream as I’m lifted off the ground. My back hits something soft, and the air whooshes out of my lungs. I twist around to see I’ve landed on the bed. His bed.

Kaida chuckles without even looking at me. “Try it again, and I’ll just do the same thing,” he warns, his eyes still closed. I let out a frustrated growl, kicking at the mattress uselessly.

“I hate you,” I hiss.

“Noted.” His voice drips with amusement.

I wiggle down to the foot of the bed, putting as much distance between us as possible, and flop onto my side in defeat.

Twisting my wrists against the scratchy rope, I try to slip free, but after a few moments of nothing but raw skin and frustration, I give up.

Kaida moves slightly, his shadows curling protectively around him like a nest. “Sweet dreams, little Fae,” he murmurs, his voice laced with sarcasm.

I clench my teeth, plotting all the ways I’ll make him pay for this.

A blade to the throat—quick, but too merciful.

Poison in his wine—slow, agonizing, but impersonal.

No, he deserves to feel it. To see me standing over him as the life drains from his eyes.

I could break every bone in his body, strip him of his power, make him beg before I end him.

But exhaustion wins out before I can decide. My thoughts blur, my rage dulled by exhaustion pressing down on me. I close my eyes, the soft hum of his shadows lulling me against my will.

***

When I wake up, the first thing I notice is… softness. Pure, blissful, feather-like softness. My face sinks deeper into the mattress as my sluggish mind struggles to catch up. Then it clicks, and my eyes snap open.

Horror floods through me as I realize I’m still in Kaida’s bed.

I push up on my elbows, my muscles stiff from the awkward position I’d fallen asleep in.

Panic surges as I glance down at my wrists, expecting to see ropes biting into my skin—but they’re gone.

My ankles, too, are free, the bindings mysteriously absent.

My fingers brush over my skin where the ropes had been, but there’s no sign of them, not even a faint red mark.

A sharp breath escapes me, and I glance around the room like a thief caught in the act. Relief washes over me when I see it’s empty. Kaida’s not here .

Exhaling shakily, I untangle myself from the thick blankets and sit up. My limbs feel heavy, like the mattress itself has conspired to keep me there. Curse that ridiculously comfortable bed—it knocked me out before I could even think of sneaking off.

So much for having the last word.

I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and rub my face, trying to shake off the grogginess. My eyes dart to the faint tendrils of shadow clinging to the corners of the room, remnants of his presence. Even when he’s not here, it’s like he’s watching.

“Creepy lizard,” I mutter under my breath.

My gaze slides to the couch by the wall where I’d hoped to sleep last night, my plan to avoid the bed entirely foiled by Kaida and his stupid shadows. I still remember the smug look on his face when he tossed me onto the mattress like a sack of grain.

Standing, I stretch out the stiffness in my back, a quiet groan escaping my lips. My hands flex, and I can’t stop replaying the moment when his shadows had wrapped around my ankles, holding me still as he tied the ropes. The memory stokes a fire of irritation in my chest.

I shake my head, focusing on the immediate question: why did he untie me? Did he? Or did his shadows somehow undo the knots while I slept? The thought sends a shiver down my spine.

I shuffle toward the bathroom. My reflection greets me in the mirror. My hair is a chaotic mess, more untamed than usual, standing out like a wild halo around my head. With a few finger-combs, I manage to tame it into something passable.

The quiet hum of the room unsettles me. With Kaida gone, curiosity wins out. My gaze sweeps over the space, cataloging every detail. His room is annoyingly pristine—no piles of clothes, no hidden areas spilling over with secrets.

I huff, disappointed, and retreat to the open platform, hoping for something—anything—to distract me.

The ledge juts into the sky, vast and rail-less, an open invitation.

A cool breeze brushes against my face, but it doesn’t soothe me—it only reminds me how easy this could be.

One step. That’s all it would take.

I inch closer, peering over the edge. The sheer drop stretches endlessly below, a quiet promise of release. My chest tightens.

My father, my clan, my friends—they’re all waiting for me on the other side. I could be with them again. No more pain. No more loneliness.

Just one step.

The ground tilts beneath me, and my knees weaken. The world blurs, and for a fleeting moment, I think—maybe this is it. Maybe I was never meant to survive this long.

No. Not like this. I won’t forfeit my life because of the Dragons—I will have my revenge.

Before I can move away from the ledge, a strong hand clamps around the back of my neck, yanking me backward with enough force to rip the air from my lungs.

“Do you have a death wish, Fae?” Kaida’s voice booms, sharp and biting. His fingers release me, and I stumble, falling to the floor. My pulse pounds as I stare up at him, wide-eyed.

He looms over me, his massive frame casting a shadow. Arms crossed and lips pulled into a sneer, his eyes blaze with irritation—and, annoyingly, faint amusement. His foot taps against the ground, a steady beat of exasperation.

“Well?” he snaps, cocking a brow. “What’s with your obsession with free falling to your doom?”

Heat floods my face as I scramble to my feet, “I don’t have a death wish,” I snap, voice shaking more than I’d like. “I got dizzy, that’s all.” Liar.

Kaida tilts his head, studying me with a faint smirk. “Dizzy? Don’t tell me you’re afraid of heights.”

I press my lips into a thin line, avoiding his gaze. “Fine. Yes, I’m afraid of heights.” The admission feels like acid on my tongue.

His smirk widens into a full-on grin, sharp and wicked. “Oh, this is going to be fun,” he drawls, taking a deliberate step closer. I stiffen, retreating a step.

“What do you mean by ‘fun’?”

He leans in, his breath warm against my cheek. “I just got an assignment,” he murmurs, his voice silky with menace. “We’re flying out in ten minutes.”

“F-fly?” My voice comes out as a squeak, and my stomach drops.

His grin stretches wider, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Fly,” he whispers, then pulls back and strides off, leaving me rooted in place, heart hammering.