Page 44 of Taken By the Lord of the Nocturne Court

“It’s a mix of shadowcraft and my imagination.”

Luke is amazed as he strokes the pillow by my face. “But it’s so dark here. I can hardly see.”

I’m reminded that Luke doesn’t have my elven sight and isn’t used to darkness the way we are in the Nightmare Realm. So I snap my fingers to evoke a swamplight that bathes the room in a green glow.

“After my mother died, I didn’t have anyone to accompany me here. Sometimes, my brother would throw me a book. At that point, I’d read the boring documents just to have something to do. I’d spent countless hours practicing my shadowcraft skills or fightingtechniques. Our father always took Kyranis’s side, so I tried to make the best of what I had here. Which was nothing, until I actually built it myself.”

The jade glow reflects in Luke’s eyes as he takes in everything around us. I have shelves filled with books, a large table, and several armchairs in different shapes and sizes as if I envisioned entertaining guests here a long time ago.

“I’m so sorry about your mother. What happened to her?”

I sigh and stroke Luke’s head, elated about sharing my secret chambers with someone after all this time. It’s been long years since anyone visited this place. Since her passing. “She tried to befriend Heartbreak’s spawn, and they gored her. The medics couldn’t do anything for her. She was gone forever. My father and brother didn’t want to engage with me unless it was necessary, so I’ve been very lonely since. What I do know about social interaction, I know from watching others, but it can be a tricky thing to follow so many rules, when my own life and feelings are suddenly at stake.

“But being on my own pushed me to pursue excellence in my craft. Every single thing you see in this realm is my own creation, and I am yet to meet a fellow shadow wielder capable of besting me in a fight. I might not have the social polish my brother learned to put on like a mask when it was convenient, but I will be twice the ruler he could ever be,” I add in a firm voice.

I want Luke to know I am the best of the best. I want him to value my skill and trust it.

He gasps and pushes into my arms when several shadows press on the canopy above.

“They just want to get to know you,” I say, “but maybe it’s time to go back and save that for when you’re more comfortable here.”

I let the shadows around us fall and moments later we’re back in the bedroom.

Luke’s heart pounds so hard I know it was a good decision to come back. “That is better,” he admits with a nervous smile. “Thank you for taking me there though. I’m a little overwhelmed, but I’d like to see it again one day.”

“Of course,” I tell him and press a kiss to his forehead. I don’t know if it’s his presence that fuels my strength, or if enough time has passed since the bite, but my flesh is warmer and feels revived. “You will be my Dark Companion, and I want to make sure you feel safe in my shadowild,” I tell him before gently kissing his lips.

There’s hesitation in him that makes me wither, but after a prolonged silence, he speaks. “Um… I have to ask. What happened to yourbrother?”

I still, worried he’s found out the truth somehow and resents me for it, but Luke’s eyes remain kind and receptive. I exhale and rest my head on the pillow as I watch him. “Hunting accident. I chose to… hide his body and take his place instead of letting my relatives fight for the throne. You might think it makes me dishonest, but after being stuck in the shadowild for so long and only used as a tool since birth, don’t I deserve a life and recognition of my own?”

Luke’s gentle fingers trail over my neck as he nods. “You do. Why would you give up on that? Because of superstition? You can carve out your own destiny. That’s what I believe.”

Relief washes through me, purging all the dark thoughts as I kiss my promised. I had no idea how much I longed to hear that from his lips. “It’s such a comfort to be here and not have my existence questioned. To finally touch people, not just watch them.”

Luke nods, locking his eyes with mine. “So you must understand the value of freedom better than most…” He kisses my lips, as if trying to sweeten the bitter fruit he’s just handed me.

I know what he means. I just… I hoped he might have changed his mind after his escape attempt.

Still, I’m no coward so I meet his gaze and stroke his cheek. “Just say it.”

I hate that he seems frightened to do so. “I’m lost here. I don’t want to live in a place where my whole existence and safety depend on another person. No matter how amazing this person seems. It’s not fair for you to kidnap me and force me to stay here in a role you decided. I know I made a deal, but I was fourteen, and in… a really bad place.”

I’m at a loss, even though this is pretty much what I’ve expected to hear. Maybe it stings that the time we’ve shared does not mean to him as much as it does for me. But how could it? I’m hardly the first person he ever touched. There are likely people in his life he misses way more than he could ever miss me.

Does it make me weak that I want to be special to him?

“I understand. It must be scary, but I would never hurt you in any way. I want to give you everything. Fulfill your every whim.” I lift his hand to my lips and kiss his palm. “But you have to meet me halfway, sweet thing. You may have been young, but by that age, I already killed someone.”

Luke’s breath becomes shallow. “Are you suggesting I spend the summers here or something? Ican’t—”

I shush him. “I don’t want you to feel trapped, Luke. But I need you to become my Dark Companion. There is no other way. But if you do this for me, if you wed me next full moon, I will let you go and only ever call upon you when it’s absolutely necessary. I will compensate you for that time, and you will otherwise be able to live your life in the human world.” He can never understand how much it pains me to present him with this offer. After last night, I was sure my Dark Companion would also be my lover, friend, and confidante. I thought I could keep him if I only tried hard enough. But entrapping him with brute force wouldn’t give me what I want. I would never want to inflict the imprisonment my family thrust upon me on someone else. Especially not the one person who knows the real me.

“Really? You’d take me back?”

“If that’s your wish,” I say, trying to make my voice stronger, so I don’t sound like a pet whining for love. “You’re also welcome to stay with me, of course. The door’s always open. Though you will need to remain at my side during courting and show your enthusiasm for it. No one needs to know of our plans.”

“So for a month.” Luke nods, as if calculating, and all I can think of is that I have one moon cycle to make him love me. “You saved my life three times by now. This sounds like a fair deal.Courting,” he says with emphasis and a little smile on his lips. “How will the prince court me?”