Page 119 of Shadow Kissed

Iretire to my room after our evening meal. Orna fills my tub and leaves me to soak and relax. I stare at the dress hanging on the armoire. It is a simple but pretty dress in pale lilac. Chosen, no doubt, to match the colour of our distinctive eyes. We all wear the same dress at the ceremony to ensure that no one girl can try to out-shine the others with an extravagant gown.

What was that?

I swear I just heard a noise from the window. I listen carefully and I hear it again. Curious, I grab my night gown and pull it over my head and move into my bedroom to investigate. I walk over to the balcony doors and push them open then peer over the edge of the iron railings.

“Ark!” I whisper, shocked to see him standing under my window.

“Get dressed. Corlan has summoned you,” he says, cupping his hand round his mouth and trying not to raise his voice too much.

I open my mouth to protest, but then think better of it, and I head back into my room to throw on some clothes. A fewminutes later, I’m climbing out over the balcony and down the ivy. I dash over to the treeline where Ark is waiting for me.

“Come on,” he orders, grabbing hold of my hand and tugging me behind him.

“Did you tell him? What did he say?” I query. Eager to learn what Corlan’s reaction was.

“Yes, I told him, and he wasn’t happy,” Ark say’s gruffly. “Let’s hurry. I have orders to carry out tonight if everything is going to go as planned tomorrow.”

“They’re still going ahead with it, then?”

He snorts. “Of course. What, you honestly thought if you just say no, they’d call the whole thing off? The rebel leaders have been planning this for years. There is no going back now. This is our big chance.”

We arrive at the inn, and I falter in my steps when we enter the meeting room and no one is here but Corlan and his deputy, Izan.

“Where is everyone?” I whisper to Ark, who ignores me and ushers me over to a seat at the table opposite the two district leaders.

“Please sit, Reya,” Corlan says with a stoic expression.

I sit down and Ark stands behind my chair, resting his hands on the back.

“Arkynn has informed me you want to back out. I’m afraid there is no way out. You will take the sunstone dagger, and you will plunge it into the shadow prince’s heart,” he informs me, leaning back in his seat and observing me coldly.

“You can’t force me. I won’t do it,” I reply, folding my arms across my chest and meeting his hostile eyes.

He sighs. “Arkynn said you’d say as much, so we thought maybe you needed some motivation. Which is why, as we speak, your brothers are on their way to one of our safe houses. Playyour part. We won’t harm your brothers if you comply with our request.”

“And if I don’t?” I ask, gripping at the seat of my chair in panic.

“Then you’ll never see your brothers again.”

“You bastards!” I growl, jumping up and lunging across the table at him. Arkynn’s arms are around me in an instance pinning me to him and I flail and kick to get free. “I’ll kill you. I swear if you hurt a hair on their heads, I’ll make you pay!”

“Nothing will happen to them if you do as we planned,” Corlan says, backing off from me and holding out his hands. “We didn’t want to do this, Reya, but you forced our hands.”

Arkynn keeps a hold of me and refuses to let me go.

“Were you informed about this?” I ask, elbowing him in his side and dipping out under his arms. I back away from them all. “Were you aware that they were planning to take my brothers?”

I can tell his answer from his expression. He grimaces and takes a step towards me. “You have to understand.”

I shake my head and put out my hand, warning him not to come any closer. “No, you stay away from me. I don’t know who you are anymore. How could you do this to me? The twins are like your adopted brothers. They admire you and hold you in high regard.” My heart aches in my chest at his betrayal.

“Give me the goddamn stake!” I command, holding out my hand. “You leave me no choice.”

Corlan nods and smiles tightly. “I’m glad you have come to your senses. You’ll see, Reya. You’ll see that this is the right thing to do. When we destroy their reaping ceremony and kill their prince, they’ll realise we will not go away without a fight.”

“You’re despicable,” I hiss, snatching the dagger out of his hand and pocketing it in my inside pocket. “You harm one hair on their heads, and I meant what I said—I will kill you.”

Corlan ignores my threats and gestures to Arkynn at the door. “Get her out of here. Oh, and Reya, we have eyes on the Lord Commander, so don’t think about running to him for help. We get one whiff that you’ve told him or anyone else, and I’m afraid your brothers will pay the price.”

---