Page 147 of A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash

And he would spend the rest of his life learning her, unraveling her, falling more and more in love with her with every passing day.

She shattered against him, a cry breaking from her throat, her body trembling as waves of pleasure rolled through her. He followed her into oblivion, his release stealing the breath from his lungs.

Mal collapsed beside him, boneless and flushed, her eyes glistening with delight.

She rested her head gently against his uninjured side, and he exhaled, brushing his fingers through the endless black waves of her hair.

‘I’m s-sorry,’ he whispered, voice raw. ‘For Nyx.’

‘Me too.’

Ash hesitated.

He wanted to ask her about the witch he had seen with Kage and Wren. The one who looked so much like Adara.

But the thought of Adara—of that name—felt like a poison seeping into this moment, and he could not bring himself to stain it.

Not now.

‘What was she like?’

His body tensed. Had Mal read his thoughts? Had he spoken aloud without realising? Or… was it something else?

He had seen what she was capable of—her power, her magic. Had she somehow heard him?

He would have to question her soon—before anyone else in the castle pieced together what she was. Before his mother or father found out.

Before the world realised the full extent of the monster they had created.

‘She was not real,’ he admitted, voice laced with quiet grief. ‘The g-girl I f-fell in love with was not real.’

Adara had destroyed him. After her, he had sworn never to love again.

Never to allow someone to sink their claws into him—never to let someone in—only to be ripped apart from the inside.

That love had ruined him. Had turned everything inside him to rot.

‘Is she the only girl you have ever loved?’ Mal asked.

The question was simple. Innocent. There was no jealousy in it, only curiosity. But his stomach twisted regardless. Because if he lied, he could hurt her.

But if he told her the truth…

Perhaps it was too soon.

Perhaps they were not ready for the weight of those words.

And yet, when he spoke, the answer left him before he could stop it.

‘No.’

He felt the way her entire body stilled against him.

His heart thundered in his chest as he braced for her reaction.

‘I have lo-loved another since then,’ he murmured. His voice was a ghost of breath, soft but certain. ‘I love another.’

The valkyrians have always been the protectors of the eight kingdoms. But I know in recent years they have started to clash with the Council. They do not agree with the decisions the Council is making, and I fear our alliance with them might break. Valkyrians are sworn to protect the kingdoms, but if they feel that one land is putting another in danger, it is their duty to intervene.

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