Page 35 of Taken By the Lord of the Nocturne Court

I grasp her hand, hoping that I can prove to her with touch that I’m a person made of flesh and bone, not just someone to be used for their shadow. “I would never forget your help.” I don’t know how to avoid Kyranis finding me again in the human world, but the imminent danger of our union is much more pressing.

I briefly think about a year of my absence passing, and while my mother is likely delighted that I’m no longer“mooching”off her, AKA living in her house and paying rent for the room I use, I imagine Kurt, and some of my other acquaintances are worried about my disappearance.

I did want to start a new life, in a new place, yes, but not like this!

Vinia swallows, then grabs me by the wrist and leads me to a large cabinet standing alongside the wall. I’m stunned when she reaches onto the top shelf, and the heavy piece of furniture moves, revealing that it’s hiding a door.

“You will follow this corridor until you reach a crossing. Go left, and then through the caves. I’ll make sure there’s a boat waiting for you on the other side. Follow the shoreline until you reach the passage into your world.”

I’m so grateful I want to kiss her dainty hands, but there’s no time for such displays, nor do I know if they would be appreciated in the first place, so I pull on my long cape and wrap it around my forearm, so it’s not a hindrance.

My heart is cold when I step into the dark passage, and she seems ready to shut the hidden door behind me when I clear my throat.

“W—where’s the light?”

Her mouth opens into an O, and she reaches past me, pulling a lantern off a little hook. Moments later, it starts glowing with a bright golden flame, so different from the green ones I’ve become familiar with. “Here. Keep it close. It will make your shadow bond weaker, and you will be hard for Kyranis to find. It will give you more time. Take care of yourself. And remember, on the crossing, go left, and then straight ahead through the caves.”

“I will never forget this,” I say to her with my heart about to leap out of my chest, but there’s no time to waste. Reiner could be coming back any second.

I take the first step down, then another, while Vinia pulls the cabinet into place with a metallic screech of finality.

I’m on my own. As always. And Iwilltake care of myself.

Chapter 13

Kyran

Inever thought the moment of my triumph would come, but here I am, standing in front of the whole court and about to ascend to a position I deserve despite it not being mine by right.

I’m almost surprised nobody has cast any doubts on who I am yet, because while I’ve been watching my twin all my life, I am not going out of my way to repeat his philandering ways. With a bit of luck, everyone might assume I’ve changed my ways out of love. Then again, sometimes I did take on the court duties he didn’t want to deal with, so he might not have seemed as lazy as he was.

But as I stand at the top of the steps leading up to the onyx thrones meant for me and my Companion, the earlier silence transforms into a storm of whispers as the courtiers notice that Luke is late.

Wiser Gelert clears his throat and adjusts the Sunstag headdress worn as the symbol of his authority over magic. So far, he’s been avoiding me with the same passion I avoid him. It’s no secret the old mage does not think highly of his prince’s conduct, but maybe he too will believe that even a wastrel like Kyranis Nightweed is capable of changing his ways.

But at the end of the day, his opinion doesn’t matter. I am the one who can take on Heartbreak, and he shall do his duty and oversee the sacred rite that binds me to Luke for good.

I glance at the midnight blue rose resting on the altar between me and where my promised should be standing by now. It has a silvery sheen from the moonlight coming in through stained glass windows. During the ceremony, I will squeeze the razor-sharpthorns on the stem, and Luke will put his hand over mine as a symbol of me always taking the burden first before reaching for his help.

But I can’t be his cushion if he’s not here.

As my personal guard, Tristan stands at the bottom of the steps in steel armor with red decoration in the shape of seaweed. He’s not wearing the human hat at least, but I don’t like that he keeps shifting his weight from side to side and glancing at the door.

Something’s wrong. I feel it in my bones.

And yet, nobody dares to question this situation, not until I address it myself, and I refuse to, so we’re all locked in limbo until my Companion chooses to—

My heart leaps when the grand door on the other side of the throne room cracks open, but my relief turns to fear when Reiner’s face flashes in the gap.

For a moment, everything around me blurs, but I catch myself in time as Tristan marches between the aisles of nobles, to find out what’s going on. I barely restrain myself from rushing there too, because what if Luke was attacked, or became unwell, but abandoning my post now would be in bad taste, so I focus on my redheaded cousin as if he were my last hope.

Whatever light was left in my heart dims when Tristan faces me, shakes his head and mouths,He’s gone.

For a moment I wonder how my arrogant brother would respond to this, and he would definitely not face this humiliation with apologies. That’s something I won’t be doing either.

Reiner whispers to the wiser while I turn around and walk off with a swish of my cape. I’m finding out what’s going on right the fuck now, but without witnesses.

I don’t even have to urge Tristan. He follows me through the side door, as does Reiner, and I hear Wiser Gelert apologizing for the delay.