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Chapter thirty-three

Of Kings and Thrones

Ayla

I tensed, leaning into Zayne’s embrace.

He isn’t shadow-stepping.

I turned to him, but on this side of the desk, we were close to the starlit box, and I watched in horror as shadows slipped through his fingers.

My own magic twinged, drawn not only to the box, but now the Starlit King. I couldn’t see my father, standing on the other side of the desk, but light flooded from him. I made myself smaller, hoping he couldn’t see us, huddled under the desk and hidden by the remnants of shadow.

“I can’t shadow-step this close to the box. I might be able to harness the black diamond, only…” Zayne said, thinking fast. He may have left the thought unfinished, but I understood.

He didn’t know if it would work. He didn’t know if he could take us both.

The Starlit King neared, his boots stomping closer, and my stomach knotted. There were so many dangerous factors at play —my role and Zayne’s, the agreement to send weapons south, and now, the repaired black diamond.

We would only remain hidden for a few more moments.

“I should have searched for you earlier, Shadow Prince.” the Starlit King boomed. “But you cannot withstand my starlight.”

My heart pinched with split-second decisions as I met Zayne’s gaze. “Do you trust me?”

“Completely.”

“Pin me,” I ordered, yanking him closer and crying out. “Help!”

Understanding glinted in Zayne’s eyes, pained and calculating. With a grunt, Zayne obeyed, pressing my back to the ground as he straddled me. His hands seized my wrists, pinning me in place. “Tell me if I’m hurting you.”

Everything hurt from the knowledge of what I was about to do. For half a breath, I memorized the force of him over me and his presence in my mind. I squeezed my eyes shut. “Just pretend you forced me here to take the shards.”

Zayne summoned an angry scowl.

I squirmed beneath him as if fighting his embrace.

My father’s footsteps raced closer, and by the time I dared to look up, the Starlit King was overhead. “Don’t you dare harm her,” he growled.

Gritting his teeth ferociously, he seized Zayne’s shoulder.

Zayne spun around and punched the Starlit King, knocking the wind out of him. The king bent over as Zayne jumped to his feet, backing toward the door.

My stomach sickened as Zayne slipped further away. I stood, spinning about to ensure the desk didn’t block my view of him for a single moment. He smirked devilishly, lifting his hand and rolling his wrist so the repaired diamond glinted.

The Starlit King’s gaze narrowed on the stone. His hands filled with light, sudden and bright. “You used my daughter to steal the shards! You will pay!”

Zayne shuffled to the door, his shadows billowing with the distance. He glanced at me urgently, and I struggled not to lose myself in him. Teyr, I loved my handsome rogue, and I didn’t want an inch more space between us.

“Run to me, and we’ll escape together,” he begged.

“That’s not the solution.”

“I don’t care. I won’t leave you.”

As he delayed, the Starlit King stepped closer. He raised his brilliantly lit hands, causing Zayne’s growing shadows to thin. “There’s nowhere to run. Your tricks might have hidden you so far, but they cannot withstand the light of a king. Be warned, my guards are just outside.”

“Go!” I begged.

“ I said, I won’t leave without you!”

Drawn to him, my feet shuffled forward, but something more slowed me down. I glanced from my ruby ring to the black diamond in Zayne’s hand, and my mind flashed with the memory of Ninti, barely alive on Leo’s shell.

“He’ll take the black diamond. Go!”

I needed him to run because I needed him safe. And the safest place for him was as far from my scheming father as possible.

I glanced at the letter on the desk, a reminder of a trade deal that had to be stopped, and resolve tightened in my stomach. “I have to stay and find a way to stop this.”

Finally, Zayne nodded, trust and understanding firm in his brow. “I will do whatever I must to ensure our future together. For you, Ayla, I’ll become the villain.”

I prayed he would forgive me for asking this of him.

Zayne lifted the black diamond to his chest and locked my gaze. My eyes traced his devilish face, my knees weakening with the urge to call this off.

I need him.

But I needed our future more. Vision blurring, resolve growing, I nodded.

Zayne held my gaze as he gave the Starlit King a mock bow. “Until next time.” He vanished. His darkness overpowering the light, his shadows shaded with Gloom’s fog.

My chest burned, our bond tensing under the sudden distance.

“Damn him,” the Starlit King cursed before turning to me. “Are you okay?”

I blinked at him, gasping and shocked, forcing myself to become the Ayla who wasn’t me.

The one who had masqueraded as Aida just so she could party with Rhett.

Someone who had just learned her father’s identity in time for the devious Shadow Prince to take advantage.

Someone who wasn’t desperately trying to check if their mate was okay.

“I never should have left you alone,” my father continued as he casually picked up the letter from Grayson and pocketed it. “It never occurred to me that he would have used you.” He glanced at the glowing box.

I stumbled forward, forcing myself to speak. “I had to. He threatened to hurt me if I didn’t help him.” I hated every word.

“I know. I felt your power being used through the throne.”

He had felt that?

This new bond went alarmingly deep, and I studied the ground, masking my concern. “Thanks for saving me.”

“I shouldn’t have left your side for a moment.” He shook his head and sighed. “Fortunately, the shards have served their purpose, and as much as I hate to think what he’ll do with them, what matters more is that we’re united now, father and daughter. Together, we’ll keep the isles safe.”

It was a lot to process. He was speaking so fast, giving away so many things without thought that shivers went down my spine. He said the shards had already accomplished his purpose, but what did that mean?

Trembling, I grounded my walls into place. Already, my new reality threatened to bring me to my knees. Through it all, my father watched, his expression hungry.

“Come with me and stay close.” He walked toward the hallway door. “After such an ordeal, you need rest, and there is room for you here. I’ll keep you safe through the remainder of the assembly.”

Swallowing the wave of grief that filled me, I feigned a relieved smile and trailed after him.

When we left the room, he turned to the guards standing outside. “Search for the Shadow Prince. He couldn’t have gone far.”