Page 61

“ W hy would Bane live outside the city?” Remnant mused keeping up with my quick strides without complaint. Her shadows weaved around her happily, dodging direct sunlight, and at times, disappearing altogether to pop back into existence once more.

“It’s Bane. Who knows why that asshole does what he does.” I avoided the direct answer, she would find out soon enough. “And the outposts are not just outside the city’s edge. They are at the base of the Red Cap Mountains and the lands bordering them. It is where the deadlands are.”

She paused for a moment, chewing on her lip. “Why do you dislike him?”

I snorted and slowed my pace to keep her from jogging next to me. “Why do you not dislike him?”

Remnant smirked up at me, her green eyes flashing.

“I never said I liked him, shifter.” She flipped her long blue black hair over her shoulder with a huff.

“Goddess knows he’s beaten the crap out of me enough times during training.

I hated him as much as I respected him then.

But there is truly no one better with weapons in all of Faerie than him. He’s earned the right to be a bastard.”

“Even better than you?” I squinted up at the hot sun, cursing. We would have to travel fast to get there before dark.

A quiet snicker left her. “My methods are not…formal enough for Bane. He does not call it mastery.” She pursed her lips, the laughter still alight in her emerald eyes and I couldn’t help but purposefully pause to remember the look of her in this moment.

“Bane should appreciate a fae using their natural instincts to stay alive in this world.” I said, quickly noticing her startled look. I walked faster. “No war was ever won by following the rules.”

Remnant laughed, jogging next to me again. “You may keep your reasons for not liking Bane to yourself, but that is the exact reason why he would not like you.”

I grinned while baring my teeth. “You are correct in saying that. Our dislike for one another is the only thing we have in common, unless it is about you of course.”

The city’s guards bowed low as we excited into the valley.

Remnant chewed on her lip again and I found myself waiting in anticipation for her next inquisition. I was thoroughly enjoying her openness.

“What is your shifter form?”

My stride faltered with surprise. I looked down at her. “You don’t know?”

She shot me a look of annoyance. “If I did I would not have asked, your majesty .”

I raised a brow. “We are back to that again, are we, little umbra?”

“We never left it.” She shrugged.

I chuckled and shook my head, placing my hand on the small of her back to guide her towards the river that surrounded our valley. “I thought it was common knowledge. My shifter form is not like most. It’s part of the reason why I never shifted before you knew who I was.”

She rolled her eyes. “Forgive me for not subscribing to the history and life of the golden prince’s fan club.”

I stopped abruptly and looked down at her in surprise. The tinge of jealousy there was something I had not expected from her. A gentle wind blew her hair across her aggravated face and I could not resist tucking it back, allowing my fingers to trail down her cheek.

“You should, you know. Subscribe, I mean. You’d be the first and only one in it. Ever.”

She arched a brow at me. “I don’t believe that for a second, your majesty. I’m sure your city is full of such fan clubs.”

“Be that as it may, I only care about one of them and it’s the one you are in.”

My soulmate huffed but she did not pull away from my touch, if anything she leaned more into it, something she had done more than once today.

“Why are you avoiding my questions?” She murmured.

“I suspect the same reason why you are avoiding telling me if you want to be in my fan club.”

“Tell me.” She finally pulled away from me and glared.

I dropped my hand, enjoying the commanding tone growled from her delectable lips. “Just like your shadows are different from your own court, my shifter side is different too…the cat’s soul is his own…he is not of our world.”

“Thank the Goddess for that.” The beast peeked out from my deep subconscious where he had been sulking.

“I was wondering when you were going to chime in. I believe that was the longest you have gone.” I shot back harshly.

The cat huffed. " You told me not to speak to you. ”

Remnant’s green eyes studied me for a moment, reading the inner dialogue on my face. “Show me him.”

My brows raised up humorously and studied the stubborn set of her jaw. “Are you commanding me again, little umbra?”

“I really wish you’d stop calling me that.”

Little umbra , little shadow. From the moment I first spoke those words and I heard her deadened heart come stuttering back to life, I knew that I would never go a day without making sure I said it as often as I could.

“I don’t think so. Besides, your shadows would be disappointed if I did.” On cue, the shadows burst forth, spinning me in their tornado of darkness before releasing me into a dizzying stumble of laughter.

Remnant sniffed and her lip pouted out. “Do not underestimate their loyalty to me just because of their fondness for you.”

My smile diminished and I nodded seriously. “I would never question their loyalty to you, Remnant Dark.” I stared deep into her eyes. “And know that you are worthy of that loyalty from all of Faerie, not just your shadows.”

She broke my stare, looking out over the river with pain in her eyes. “Loyalty to me only gets fae killed, shifter. Like my shadows, you don’t know what I am capable of, which is why I don't champion any fan club.”

Reaching outwards, I turned her face towards me meeting the blaze in her emerald eyes. Goddess, I could lose myself in her eyes alone. Pledge my entire being with just one look from them.

“I know exactly what you are capable of and more Remnant Dark. I’m not afraid of it.

I fucking want to unleash it. But if you cannot be in my fan club…

then I will be in yours. Always.” I leaned in and planted a soft kiss on her plush mouth before pulling away.

“I also find that I cannot deny you anything. So prepare yourself.”

She frowned.

“Your turn, cat.” I growled low in warning. " Don’t fuck this up.”