Page 11 of Taken By the Lord of the Nocturne Court

“They are hardly a myth, if they brought us all the way here.”

“Where ishereexactly?” Luke asks, and my tongue stiffens as I watch him while fog thickens around the stone bridge ahead.

Right. Back when I made the deal with him, I didn’t bother to take my time explaining what was going to happen in the future. I’m now paying for that mistake. “This is one of the few places where realms connect. One can pass through, provided the toll mistress allows it.”

“I’m guessing theprincegets to go where he wants?” Luke asks with a deep sigh, taking another step closer to the kelpies. Their shiny black coats drip with water, and when they shake their heads, seaweed is clearly visible in their manes.

My mouth quirks as I take his hand and lead him to the front of the carriage, so he can have a better look at the draft team. “I am the beneficiary of the toll, so yes. I can come and go as I please, though there are rules to it that even I am obliged to follow. As for the kelpies, you don’t need to be frightened. The males can be tamed, if one starts the training early enough. Besides, they’re under Drustan’s control,” I nod to my coachman. “He is a kelpie himself, but lives in this vaguely elven form, serving my family.”

Luke stares at Drustan’s blank face. His heartbeat quickens, I can sense it in his hand. “So if they’re tamed, can I… pet one?”

I grab the fingers of his other hand just as he’s about to put them on the kelpie’s mane, and I click my tongue. “Only with proper equipment. They’re very sticky, you see, and if their skin touches yours, it might take a while for us to free you,” I say and pull him against my chest. The fluffy top of his head tickles my chin, and my eyes close as I breathe in the earthy aroma clinging to his hair.

Seven years ago, I chose him at random, just one of many lost humans hoping to survive in the River of Souls, but he’s grown into a fine man. I’m surprised how much I like looking at him.

And unlike everyone else in my life, he never knew the real Kyranis. He’s the only one who knows me asme, even if under a false name.

It feels good to be seen.

He’s tense in my arms but doesn’t fight the embrace. Nodding, he looks back to Drustan, who watches us with his watery eyes. “If he’s a kelpie, is his skin… sticky too?”

I never considered it myself, but now we are both staring. It’s so interesting to see such mundane things through Luke’s eyes. “I would… assume so.”

Drustan’s lip curls in annoyance. “Excuse me, Your Highness, but I must voice, that I am most definitely notsticky.”

“Are you sure?” Luke asks, cocking his head. “Have you checked?”

I blink and squeeze his shoulder a bit harder when he leans forward, as if about to move. “You want to…touchmy coachman?”

“Sorry! No. I—”

Drustan’s expression couldn’t be any sourer. “I am not a mindless beast to be petted and prodded!”

Luke pulls his hands back under the cape, and I already miss his touch. “I understand. I didn’t mean any disrespect. I was just curious,” he mumbles in a voice so velvety sweet I long to coax it back out with my tongue and kiss his warm lips.

How would they taste?

And his skin? Is it as sweet as the meringues it resembles in color?

“I’m sure he doesn’t mind,” I say and guide him to the steps leading into the carriage.

The green glow of the lantern inside gives half of his face an otherworldly sheen. “Is there really nothing I can do for you to take me back?” he asks with a tremble to his voice.

I steady myself, annoyed that for a moment I let myself believe he no longer hates my company. “No. I’m sorry. I need to wed my Dark Companion, and the full moon is tomorrow,” I say, climbing inside.

Behind me, Drustan takes away the steps and closes the door, but I barely take note of his presence, focused on the small human sitting on the padded bench across from me.

Luke clenches his fists on his knees. “What kind of marriage is it if you force me into it? It’s not fair. Why can’t you find someone else? You’re handsomeenough.”

I press my lips together, breathing slowly to keep my demeanor calm. I’ve never had to control my expressions, kept out of sight, if not out of mind, but the lack of training is now crawling back, like the thorny vines, about to tear apart my mask of politeness. “Because I cannot tether myself to another human’s shadow for as long as you live. Do you want to die, Luke?”

He stills, and his Adam’s apple bobs when he swallows.

Good. A little bit of fear never killed anyone.

“No,” he mumbles as if my question wasn’t rhetorical, and that somehow annoys me even more.

“If you wanted to keep your shadow, you should have stayed dead, not bargained with it.”