Page 21 of In The Shadows

He takes my hands and places soft kisses on each.

“Let’s get you home so I can enjoy you some more,” he says.

Heat sinks low in my stomach at the thought of having him again. But I know we can’t, and I know he is going to insist on staying together tonight.

“While I would love to take you home with me, my friend’s place is small, and my bed is far too tiny to hold you,” I say, motioning at his gigantic body.

He grins in understanding.

“Then my place it is,” he replies.

Holding my hand, he turns and starts down the path toward the main walkway. He scoops my bag up off the ground as we pass where it had fallen.

I let him pull me along as panic hits me. I can’t stay in his castle. If we’re discovered, King Leopold will know I’ve broken the deal and try to kill me, or worse, he might kill Theo to punish me. Oren made it clear that the deal I made with the kings means that I must remain in the shadows to keep Theo and my people safe.

Since Oren’s death, the power dynamics have shifted. I’m stronger than I was, and I now have King Asher at my side. But I can’t risk an unplanned fight where innocent people will get hurt, especially when the ones I love would be Leopold’s prime targets. I wouldn’t put it past him to kill Theo, and even his own daughter, to get back at me.

“You live in the castle?” I ask, even though I already know the answer.

Theo continues down the alley without looking back at me.

“Yes, I have lived in Brightwick my entire life. I stay in the captain’s quarters now. I think you’ll really like it,” he replies.

I know that I most definitely won’t like it and rack my brain trying to come up with a believable excuse. I don’t think ‘Sorry, Theo, but your king will try to murder me if I step foot into his castle’ will be the best answer.

We finally make it back to the main cobblestone path, and I pause as Theo turns in the castle’s direction.

“I don’t think the royal family will like a Fati viator girl in their palace,” I say, allowing the panic to be clear in my voice.

He turns to look at me, tilting his head to the side, considering my words.

“You will be safe. You’re with me. No one will bother you inside its walls,” he says reassuringly.

If only he knew how wrong he is.

“I know you will keep me safe, but I’m not comfortable with it. I have been to the castles of the divinus before. They are not a welcoming place for someone like me,” I say, trying to drive the point home.

He squares his body to mine, not speaking a word. He appears to be accepting my statement but also not wanting to give up on his attempts for us to stay together tonight.

“What about the inn? I know the keeper and can get us a room for the evening,” I blurt out an alternative despite my better sense.

Knowing the keeper of the inn is a bit of a stretch. I have stayed there a handful of times in the past two years.

Theo nods at me, seeming to agree with my plan, and digs into his pockets.

“Ok, at least let me pay for the room,” he says.

My sweet, thoughtful Theo wants to make sure his poor lady doesn’t waste the money she needs on him.

“I’ll pay for it. We don’t need the village starting rumors about how the captain spends his time with lowly viator women,” I reply.

He grimaces as the words come out with more bite than I intend.

“Viv—” he starts, but I interrupt him, already knowing what he’s going to say.

“You have a reputation to protect. I don’t. If there is anything I can do to keep you safe, this is it. You don’t need the villagers thinking differently of you just because of me,” I say sternly.

His face contorts into a scowl. He may not like what I am saying, but he knows it’s true. Fati people, especially those who travel for work, are the lowest-class mortals in Omnia. People have forced viators to live on the outskirts of society and are always looking down on them for it. The villagers of Lux and Terra do their best to avoid them as much as possible. They only interact with viators when it is required for trade and services.

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