Page 37 of Of Nightmares & Fire (Elusive Umbra #1)

A knock at the door has her flinching but I keep her locked in my grip.

Not ready to break away from this moment.

Whoever is there can wait. I press my lips to hers and I bask in the warmth of how she melts in my arms despite the intrusion.

If only for this moment, I will allow myself to believe that she is something I can claim.

I will give us both a moment to trust that what comes next won't leave us both battered and broken.

“I need to answer the door before they come in to check on me.” She says breathlessly.

“I will allow your friend to come with us, but ensure she knows there is no going back to her old life.” I say softly. It's a warning for her friend, but for her too .

“When we leave, everything changes.” She says, easily lifting her chin in defiance and the flame that dances in her flares.

With my discarded shirt in hand and my boots unlaced I stand in the hidden passage that leads to Astraea’s chamber with my head leaning back against the dusty stone wall. My eyes closed as I try to collect myself.

Nothing is going right.

Every time I feel like we are on the right path, something else happens to change it. Someone changes it. My jaw clenches as I shimmy the shirt over my head and into place on my chest covering the last bit of evidence of last night.

“Are you ok? You look flustered.” Astraea’s handmaid says as she lets her into the room and closes the door. There is no answer from the princess and it brings a smirk to curl my lips. Did I make you speechless, Shula?

As much as I want to hear what she has to say to her friend about me and whatever last night was, I don’t have time.

Astraea told me what she needed from me for her plan and we only have a couple hours to get everything in line for this to pan out.

If we can’t make it work we will have to follow them into the dunes and that will be a problem.

Considering I am the only one who can rend in our group, and my magick is not yet fully recovered, there is no way I would be able to transport all of us far .

I have barely made it around the corner, heading toward the main hall, the one that leads to the visitors wing of the castle before I am being halted by none other than the prick, Pravin.

“What are you doing coming from the royal wing of the castle?” He growls in question, his hand lingering on the belt that holds his short sword. My eyes drop to it before I answer him, I crack my neck and widen my stance. The motion makes him eye my untied boots and his eyes narrow.

“I was out for a morning stroll and lost my way… but I’m sure that you would be able to point me in the right direction.” The smirk I give him causes his face to redden as another guard comes walking from the same direction I came from.

“The princess has been informed of the change.” The guard from last night, Kellan, says, looking me up and down before lifting his gaze to Pravin.

“Good. Then I guess you are the only one left to inform… Is that blood on your tunic?” He questions and I look down at the fabric on my chest pulling it out to inspect it closer.

“Hmm, I guess it is. What changed?” Nonchalance bleeding from my tone.

“Are you injured? That looks like a bit of blood.” He asks skeptically. I smile leaving him time to wonder before I finally answer.

“Thank you for your concern, but no. I’m not injured, but there was a bit of blood, you are right.” I say, and Kellan clears his throat and brings Pravin’s attention back to him.

“Since we have you here, I suppose now is as good a time as any to let you know that the king has changed the timeline in the challenge departure. It seems that there is an approaching sandstorm and they will need to leave within the hour to beat it.” His words hit me like the storm he speaks of and I grind my teeth.

“Doesn’t it make more sense for them to wait out the storm? Why rush off into the desert when you know the dangers that are headed this way?” As I say the question I realize why. This is another challenge in itself.

“The princess needs to be married by the time she turns twenty-one, we don’t have time to wait out a storm. I presume that is not hard for you to comprehend, being that you are an heir to a kingdom too.” Pravin cuts in.

“Don’t presume anything about the inner workings of my mind, Pravin . I assure you, you have no idea what I tend to understand." I begin walking away from them and away from the royal wing of the castle, when I am called after by a voice that is not either men and has me screeching to a halt.

When I turn to face her, her deep shadowy tresses are down flowing along her back and my eyes can't help but follow the cascade of them.

She chews her lip at my obvious observation.

She's in a cream colored dress, the material light and flowy the hessian fabric that will shield her face from the desert elements hangs loosely around her neck.

Everything down to the rose colored tint on her cheeks looks like a desert goddess.

“I would love it if you could escort me to the gates, for the favor ceremony.” She smiles then, and Pravin nearly growls in revulsion. Kellan’s jaw tightens, but he otherwise looks passive .

“I would love to, Astraea, but I do need to prepare myself.” I gesture to my chest, “as you can see, sparring took quite the turn.”

“I don’t mind at all. I will wait for you.” She says happily, without missing a beat. She needs to tone it down even I can see through her charade.

“That is highly inappro—” Pravin starts but Kellan cuts him off.

“I will escort you both.” He says, gesturing toward the wing I was headed.

“Great. Then it’s settled.” Astraea beams, then looks to Pravin with a glare.

“Pravin.” She strides ahead leaving the three of us watching after her and then Kellan follows.

I can’t help the smirk that pulls the corners of my mouth up when I look back at the guard on a power trip and the unbridled rage on his face.

“I presume, I will see you at the ceremony.” I pat him on the chest before I leave him standing there alone and catch up to Kellan and Astraea.

“Kellan is going to help us.” She says quietly when I reach her side. Shifting her eyes back at Pravin as she does. This Kellan better be trustworthy or his blood will be the first to dirty my hands since my declaration to Astraea.

We don't have much time to gather anything for the journey, but Kellan assures us he has people working on gathering for the trip.

They of course don't know that it's us they are gathering items for, just that a higher ranking soldier has asked for it, so it will be done.

I quickly change my clothing and grab any weapons I was keeping in my room before we start heading to the gates for the ceremony .

Through it all, I can't help but notice the many times Astraea and my eyes have clashed as we catch each other stealing glances. Her cheeks pink on multiple occasions and judging by the tension coming from the solicitous guard she has, there are some thoughts churning about the interactions.

“Ready?” Astraea says before we exit the palace.

Kellan nods to both of us before exiting first. Astraea moves to follow, but I stop her before she descends the steps.

I pull her into an alcove shielded by the sun and I deepen the shadows with my magick.

She sucks in a sharp breath as I pull her into my chest.

“Before we do this, I want to make sure you are ready. This is what you want?” It doesn’t matter if this is what she wants, but right now, it is easier that she believes she has a choice.

“I’ve wanted nothing more my whole life than to get away from this nightmare.

You are saving my life, Kyros.” My stomach sinks at her admission.

Though I know that this is a job I am required to do, I can't help but feel a little regret at omitting the truth of why I am helping her leave the kingdom.

I grind my teeth and nod, because I can say nothing more that won't be a lie.

She has been lied to enough, and because I am a sadist prick, I grab the back of her neck and pull her to me.

Our lips collide and I swear sparks fly out around us.

The little magick I have restored trembles around us as we take each other's air until we can no longer breathe. Hiding in the shadows it seems like time has stopped entirely and I finally break the kiss, leaning back to look at my Shula Morana’s eyes.

That same regret surfacing as I feel like I am drowning in her .

“Ready?” I ask.

“I’m beginning to think I will be ready for anything—with you.” She says, taking my breath with her as she steps out of the shadows and catches up to Kellan taking his arm, he guides her where the rest of the suitors have already been lined up.

I don’t like this plan, as it takes me so far from her, and my brother…

but I can't very well just walk up to the main steps where the ceremony is going to take place. I’m quick to find Zinya.

She was the main person I was looking for.

I’m confused for a moment when I don’t see Tarin.

He should be with her. She must sense my confusion because as I reach her she nods in the direction of where the suitors are stationed.

Tarin is just behind Mavros. Each suitor has a guard standing at heel strapped with weapons and ready for a journey.

“The king is allowing one guard of their choice to accompany the suitors. No women are allowed.” Zinya growls under her breath, with her arms crossed over her chest.

“He would have chosen you, if the king would have allowed it.” I tell her, but she knows it's likely not the truth. Mavros would want to protect her if he could, by not allowing her to come. Even if she is one of the most respected fighters in Diemos.

“I want you to know, we have a plan and Mavros will not be fighting in this challenge.” Her head snaps in my direction and I look at her out of the corner of my eye.

“The princess knows and is coming back to Diemos with us willingly. She is part of the plan to escape.” Zinya's head snaps back toward where the king steps from his opulently decorated palanquin.

The carved design dipped in golden metal lets off a reflected flash of light as it is lowered for him to take the steps toward where Astraea waits.

“Lovely people of Eathian! It's time for the next challenge to receive my daughter's hand in marriage. Let the favor ceremony begin!” He calls out over the quieting crowd. All eyes are glued on him, but he only finds mine. A smirk playing on his lips. This whole thing is for me. To separate me and my brother. I can’t wait to fuck up his plans entirely.