Page 55 of Shadowbound

My eyes adjust at last and I see what she’s talking about. The small door behind the whipping frame I’m still cuffed to is open wide and inside is what looks like a kind of treasure room. It’s very like Sylvanna’s collection with various magical artifacts displayed on stone pedestals. And right in the middle is something that can only be The Heart of the Eclipse.

It’s exactly as the old texts I studied before coming on my quest describe it—a deep purple stone as big as my fist. It’s roughly oval—shaped like a human heart—and wrapped with delicate gold wire at the top and bottom.

For now, it’s dark, though the texts I read said that it must be lit from within to be activated. Not that I worried about that part—my only goal has always been to just deliver it to the GodKing. But I’m not so sure about that now. Should I really bring such a powerful artifact to him?

My thoughts are wandering and I’m sagging in my bonds, still panting from being so thoroughly taken by my Mistress. It feels good but also, I’m fucking tired. I need to get unhooked from these damn silver cuffs!

“Mistress—” I start to say, but then a cold voice cuts me off.

“Well, well—thank you so much for doing such a lovely job opening the Royal Collection, my love. I knew you and your Paladin could do it.”

29

Sylvanna

My blood runs cold as I whip around and see Kraven standing there. There’s a familiar smirk on his face that lets me know he’s got something planned—something I won’t like.

I start to talk but he raises a hand and throws something. I see only a flash of silver and then I feel strong strands of wire so cold it burns wrapping around my flesh.

“Ah, I see that I’ve caught the two of you at an inconvenient time,” Kraven remarks, striding further into the room.

“What the fuck did you do to my Mistress?” Alaric growls. “What’s that wrapped around her?”

I could ask the same thing—if my mouth would move. But I seem to be completely frozen in place with the silver strands wound around my entire body.

“I simply used the Net of Stillness on her,” Kraven tells him. “It’s a little known artifact but quite useful, I find. It neutralizes magical abilities and freezes the subject in place. As you can see,” he says, nodding at me.

“You fucker! Get that thing off of her!” Alaric yanks on his cuffs, but for some reason he can’t break out of them, though they’re only made of thin silver.

“Don’t bother trying to get free,” Kraven tells him. “I replaced the regular cuffs on that particular whipping frame ages ago with unbreakable silver. Unless you have magic stronger than mine—which I very much doubt—you’re staying exactly where you are, Paladin.”

“Fuck you!” Alaric growls. “You touch her and I swear I’ll fucking kill you!”

“It’s not your Mistress I’m concerned with—it’s the Royal Collection. And more specifically, The Heart of the Eclipse.” He gestures at the fist-sized purple gem lying on the stone pedestal. “You know, I was certain when I sent those ‘dreams’ to his Seer, that your GodKing would want The Heart for himself. Especially when I added the part about how the Heart would grant him everlasting life and get rid of his biggest rival for the throne of Solaris.”

“What are you talking about?” Alaric demands. “The GodKing has no rival.”

“Oh yes he does, Paladin—you are his rival.” A cruel smile curls the corners of Kraven’s thin lips. “He fears you because of your Holy Warrior status and because of the ‘Celestial Fire’ inside you. He thinks you’ll depose him and take his throne.”

“You’re lying!” Alaric growls but I can see by his eyes that he’s not sure.

“No I’m not—not that you’re going to get a chance to find out. Because I’m going to take what I came for. With The Heart of the Eclipse, I can rule both Nocturna and Solaris!”

He starts to go into the room where the Collection is housed…but then he turns back to me.

“But you know, first I think I’ll finish something I started a long time ago,” he remarks. He comes over to me and pushes the silver strands of the net that covers me to one side, baring the side of my neck. “I think I’ll Drain you, my dear Blood-Partner,” he says, his fangs flashing as they grow longer, getting ready to attack. “Taking your magic and your blood will be a fitting end to all this, don’t you think?”

“Don’t you fucking touch her!” Alaric roars and I can see him throwing himself against the cuffs that bind him, doing everything he can to get to me.

But it’s too late. As Kraven’s long fangs pierce my throat, I can feel my magic along with my life’s blood being sucked away—drawn into him as he begins the Draining.

I try to fight, but I can’t even move. The Net of Stillness has me wrapped up tight and all I can do is stand there as he sucks and swallows

He’s draining me dry and there’s nothing I can do about it.

30

Alaric

---