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Chapter eight

Secrets and Starlight

Ayla

The flirty fun of sneaking around with Zayne sank in my stomach as wariness washed over me instead. “Three shards?”

Zayne was silent for a long moment. “Maybe they belong to a member of his court.”

We glanced at one another uncomfortably, wishing he was right. But if the shards were in the Starlit King’s rooms, he had to know they were there.

“But why? ” I pressed. “Not even half an hour ago, he toasted to the future of the Isles—one free from shades blocking the trade route. A bright future without Gloom.” If he controlled three of seven shards, why hadn’t he acted against Inarus earlier?

Zayne didn’t answer. Instead, he offered his hand in preparation to shadow-step. “Let’s see what we can learn.”

Heart racing, I accepted, and as the darkness swallowed us, I fought the fear that we were walking into a game much larger than either of us could see.

We landed in a vast living room. Looking around, I had no doubt these were the rooms reserved for the Starlit Court. Luxurious fabrics draped from every surface, the remainder shining with jewels. The living space overlooked the cliff, floor to ceiling windows opening to a stately balcony.

A member of the court was passed out on one of the couches, the drink on the table suggesting they’d already partied to the point of exhaustion.

There were several doors behind us and a staircase leading upstairs. Zayne paused, his body stiffening as he searched for the shards once again.

I waited, my gaze darting across the room, searching for any threat. Watching his still chest brought back memories of the night he had almost died, and I startled as the lone fae snored, his chin dipping further against his chest. Holding my breath, I confirmed nothing else moved.

“Upstairs,” Zayne whispered, pointing to the ceiling near the windows. Relieved, I exhaled.

He shadow-stepped us up the flight of stairs and into a long hallway. Several doors lined the hall, but fortunately, there was only one to the side of the sea. Presumably, it was the largest room—the space the Starlit King would surely claim for himself.

My mouth dried as Zayne led me through the darkness again, this time into the main suite.

We stood in an office, a bedroom door ajar on the side wall. Most of the room was filled by a large hardwood desk, the window imposing behind it. Like the floor below, the floor-to-ceiling glass looked out upon the sea.

Zayne pointed at the table. “There.”

An ornate box shone from the center of the table, its walls decorated with golden stars set against a dark blue sky. A heavy lid sat upon it, a diamond pommel for its handle.

And once my gaze found it, I couldn’t look away. Something about it felt so familiar, and magic welled within me.

Drawn closer, I stepped from the safety of Zayne’s side.

“Wait” —Zayne snatched my elbow— “Be careful!”

He slowed me down, but I couldn’t stop.

The same power that had burned in my hands when I’d danced with the king returned. My hands glowed, yellow and hot, but I didn’t feel any pain. Opening and closing my hand, I watched as a pinprick of light formed at my palm, growing bigger.

Starlight .

This time when Zayne caught my upper arm, he didn’t let go, forcing me to take a step back.

Startled, I blinked several times, struggling to pull my gaze from the box. “What is happening?” I rasped.

“Like calls to like, and that box is built from starlight.”

“Oh.” Looking about, I noticed how the darkness that had so comfortably disguised us had thinned. “Your shadows…”

“I know.” Zayne growled, guiding me back another step, and his darkness grew a little thicker.

“So how do we open the box?” I asked.

Zayne’s lips drew into a line. “We don’t.”

“Why—” I began to ask.

But before I could finish my sentence, he gathered the shadows around us and leapt, leaving the shards behind.