Page 23 of Ringmaster (The Kingdom of Shadow & Bone #1)

Azrael

Marblas’s head rests in my lap. I stroke my fingers through his mane with one hand, turning the strange metal box over in the other.

When I returned from my father’s realm, and the run-in with the Fates—I found it in my pocket.

Ever since, I’ve carried it with me everywhere.

It seems important, like it might be something I need.

Possibly a clue to what he tried to tell me.

It’s small enough to fit inside my fist, so I put it on a chain and wear it around my neck for safekeeping.

I can’t let this fall into the wrong hands—or risk losing it—especially since I don’t yet know what it does.

The box hums with warmth and magic. The brassy metal appears tarnished in some places, making the runes impossible to translate.

I press it between my palms, and it flattens, folding into a star.

The runes form a spiral. The etchings are small, worn and old.

There’s something familiar about it, but no matter how hard I try to comb through my memories, I can’t recall ever seeing this object before.

I lift it closer, inhaling the faint scent of my father’s kingdom. Notes of cotton candy—overpowered by smoke—fill my nostrils.

A low growl from Marblas startles me. I shove the strange object beneath my shirt, hiding it. He’s alert and focused on the barn door, muscles tensing as he prepares to react. He jumps to his feet, and I do the same as the door slides open.

Giselle peeks her head in, a wide smile plastered on her face as she exclaims joyfully, “Azrael, I ‘ave zay surprise for zou! ”

My stomach drops as she yanks Mercy into view.

“Giselle,” I say, my voice rougher than usual, tension edging each word. “Do you remember that favor you owe me?”

“Oui,” she replies, still beaming.

“If you stand watch outside and knock three times if anyone’s coming, then I’ll consider the favor settled. Sound fair? ”

“Oui, merci, monsieur,” she curtsies, then shoves Mercy gently into the barn and slides the door closed behind her.

Mercy stands frozen, eyes locked on Marblas, who stares back at her, transfixed.

“It’s okay. He won’t harm you. Walk to me,” I instruct, moving to meet her halfway.

When she reaches me, I pull her into my arms, protectively, my hand gliding over the small of her back in slow, soothing circles as she crumbles against me.

“Azrael, I’m so sorry,” she whispers. “I know you said not to come back here like this.”

“Shhh. It’s okay. You shouldn’t be here. But tell me why you came. What’s happened? Did–” I let my sentence trail off, afraid to ask, knowing I might not be able to control my anger.

I step back, holding her at arm’s length, my eyes sweeping over her, inspecting every inch for injuries. When I find none, I gather the courage to ask. “Did he hurt you?”

She shakes her head, but her lip quivers.

“What did he do?” I growl.

She’s trembling. I pull her close again. “Angel, I can’t help you if you don’t tell me. What happened?”

My words are a soft rumble against her ear.

“Someone saw me,” she chokes on a sob. “The other night, when I slipped through the gates… My—I don’t know what to call him, because he’s not my father—his co-worker at the factory saw me. I guess he blackmailed him for money to keep his mouth shut and not ruin the marriage arrangement.”

I swallow the roar threatening to rip from my chest. I don’t know what happened yet, but Mercy’s tears threaten to shred every bit of my restraint. Lately, my emotions—especially where she’s concerned—have been harder and harder not to act on. But I can’t lose control. She needs me to be steady.

My fingers drift up her spine, weaving wisps of shadowed courage into her. To my surprise, she arches into the touch, nuzzling her cheek against my chest. “Keep going,” I murmur. You can tell me.”

She takes a shaky breath. “When he came home, he was angry and said I’m not allowed to leave the house until my wedding. Blamed me for possibly ruining everything. He said all the bribe money I lost him has to be paid back.”

A shudder rolls through her body. The magic in the air snaps, sizzling where it clashes with mine.

But it’s not my magic—it’s Mercy’s. I can feel it as clearly as my own—wild, untethered.

I don’t dare tell her. Not yet. If our magic feeds off one another, we could have a serious problem.

Instead, I fight hard to keep my anger in check.

“Paid back how?” I ask through gritted teeth.

She doesn’t answer. Her sobs break free, wracking her entire body.

Minutes later, when her cries quiet, she sniffles and whispers—so low I almost miss it—“He sometimes sells—” A shudder tears through her.

“He sometimes sells my body to cover his debts. He sold my virginity to pay off what he owed the tavern when they threatened to kill him. My mother doesn’t know. She can’t.”

Rage floods every inch of me. My vision edges to black as I clench my jaw.

I’m going to fucking kill him. I’ll drag his soul to the Kingdom of Agony and Penance myself and make certain he suffers for everything he’s stolen from her.

And then I’ll move her into the manor where she belongs.

Like I should have done years ago. Fuck the Ringmaster’s wishes.

I’m not his puppet. She’s my soulmate. I don’t doubt it anymore.

I was meant to save her from this life, and there’s no future where I don’t.

She draws back, shame thick on her face. “I…I’m sorry,” Mercy stammers. “I shouldn’t have come. I know you told me not to, but—as hard as it might be to believe, there’s more.”

“What do you mean, there’s more?” I ask, gritting my teeth.

She wipes away a tear with the back of her hand and looks up at me through soaked lashes. “When he told me I’d never be able to leave again and put my mother in charge of being my jailor,” her voice wavers. “I snapped. And then something bad happened.”

“Mercy, what happened?”

She gulps. “I froze them. Or maybe I froze time. At least, I think I did, because judging from your reaction, it wasn’t you.”

Tears stream down her face, painting salty rivers. All I can think about is how I want to kiss them away. There’s nothing stopping me. I take her hands in mine, step closer, and bend to press a kiss to each teardrop that falls.

“Mercy,” I mumble. “Everything’s going to be okay. We’ll ask Zora to help unfreeze them.”

She looks down, guilt spreading across her face. “Um,” she stammers, hesitating.

“What is it?” I ask, concerned.

“It wasn’t just my parents I froze. I didn’t see a single living thing that wasn’t frozen until I arrived here and ran into the girl who brought me to you.” Her confession catches me off guard. I blink, stunned.

“You froze the entire town?”

“I think so,” Mercy replies. “But Azrael, why aren’t you frozen?”

Shit.

I knew this day might come—sooner rather than later. “Mercy,” I say, “I think you already know the answer to that question.”

She bites her lip, looking away from me. “Azrael, what are you?”

I sigh. “I can’t tell you. But I think you can figure it out if you try.”

“Why can’t you tell me?” she presses.

“Because, my angel, I’m bound by bigger things than this world.” I drop my voice as much as I can.

“Are you a monster?”

I feel a part of me breaking. That’s how she sees me. And the worst part? She’s right. I’m death incarnate. Slowly, sadness seeps over me, engulfing me in despair.

It’s my turn to hang my head. “You could call me that,” I rasp, tasting the truth like poison on my tongue.

“Well then, I guess I fell in love with a monster. What does that make me?”

“Foolish,” I reply, my tone dark and foreboding.

I close my eyes, breathing in her scent. It must be a sin to crave the familiarity, and after this, I’ll likely never be close enough again. I’m surprised she hasn’t run yet. Thankful—because if she did, I’m not sure I could resist chasing her. More than that, I’m impressed she’s still here.

“Azrael, can an angel love a monster like you?” she asks, blinking back tears.

“An angel can love anything it wants, I suppose—even a monster,” I stroke the back of my knuckles tenderly down her cheek.

The Fates. Of course, they’d give me the one soul capable of looking past all that I am and still choosing to love me. She was made for me—and I for her.

“Then I will.” She wraps her arms around my neck, tilts her chin up, and kisses me.

When my tongue flicks across her lips, hungrily begging to be let in, she parts them, and the world spins. She tastes sweet and tempting. Her mouth welcomes me, letting me devour her as I swirl and slide my tongue against hers, silently pleading for this kiss to never end.

The sound of the barn door sliding open and Marblas’s throaty growl sends us jumping apart. I look to see why Giselle would interrupt us. It hasn’t been very long, but my eyes catch on a familiar pair of shoes.

The Ringmaster steps into the barn—and he looks pissed. Giselle steps sheepishly out from behind him.