Page 22 of Crowned By the Shadow
It didn’t account for her resilience, her courage, her unwavering determination to protect those she loved. It didn’t account for the power of our bond, a connection that defied the ancient laws of both courts.
Sebastian had seen that strength in his daughter, even in their brief time together. He had recognized it, valued it enoughto give his life so that she could continue her fight. His sacrifice wasn’t just an act of paternal love, it was an affirmation of hope, a belief that Senara could succeed where others had failed.
As the sun crested the horizon, painting the world in gold and crimson, I made a silent vow to the man I had barely known that I would protect his daughter with everything I had. Without hesitation, I would stand beside her against whatever darkness lay ahead, and not just because she was my bonded mate. No matter what, I would ensure that his sacrifice was not in vain.
The corruption might be spreading through Senara’s mark, but it would have to get through me first. Our soul bond had united us in ways that transcended physical laws. Whatever happened, we would face it together.
As if sensing my thoughts, Senara squeezed my hand. Through our bond, I felt her gratitude, her love, and beneath it all, a steely determination that matched my own.
“We’ll find Wyn,” she said, her voice stronger now. “We’ll save her. And then we’ll finish this.”
I nodded, my resolve hardening. “Together.”
“Together,” she agreed, and for a moment, the darkness threading through her mark seemed to recede, pushed back by the light of our shared purpose.
We continued on as the new day dawned, carrying the weight of Sebastian’s sacrifice with us, not just as a burden, but as a gift. A reminder of what we were fighting for, and why we could never surrender.
Chapter
Eight
Senara
The forest surrounding us was unfamiliar, tall pines with needles that glinted silver in the moonlight. I took a shaky breath, trying to orient myself. The pendant hung heavy against my chest, a constant reminder of all we’d lost and all that remained at stake.
“Do you know where we are?” I asked Thorn, who was already scanning our surroundings with narrowed eyes.
“Northern edge of the Whispering Woods,” he replied after a moment. “Sebastian sent us far from the capital, at least a day’s journey on foot, and we’ve covered a decent amount of ground since then as well.” His gaze shifted to me, searching. “Are you alright?”
The question nearly broke me. My father, a man I’d just met, just begun to hope to know, had sacrificed himself so we could escape. The hollow ache in my chest threatened to consume me, but I couldn’t surrender to it. Not now. Not after everything else I’d been through. Yet, the temptation was there. I wouldn’t let this be the thing that broke me though, not while Wyn’s life was still at stake. Not to mention the rest of the world.
I cleared my through and said, “I’m standing. That’s enough.” We both knew that Thorn could sense exactly how I was doing through the bond, but there was something more intimate about him asking that I appreciated. I also appreciated him not pushing for more when I wasn’t sure I could give it without breaking down. Again.
Thorn nodded, understanding in his eyes. “We should make camp. Rest while we can.”
“We don’t have time?—”
“Senara.” His voice was gentle but firm. “You’re exhausted. I’m exhausted. We’ve been walking for hours after fighting more than one battle. We won’t help Wyn by collapsing before we reach her.”
He was right, though I hated to admit it. My limbs felt leaden, my mind foggy with fatigue and grief. I nodded reluctantly.
We found a small clearing sheltered by a ring of ancient oaks. Thorn gathered wood while I cleared a space for a fire. The familiar tasks helped ground me, pulling me back from the edge of despair.
Once the fire was crackling between us, Thorn pulled out the few supplies he’d grabbed during our escape, a water skin, some dried meat, and a small bundle wrapped in cloth. I had no idea when he’d grabbed any of it, or where he’d even found it. Part of me wanted to ask if it was from Fenvalur’s chambers and if so then maybe we shouldn’t touch it because the mystery meat could be anything, but the empty pit of my stomach wouldn’t let the words slip between my lips, instead I asked a different question as he carefully unwrapped the bundle. “What’s that?”
“Something I took from Fenvalur’s chambers.” He revealed a small, leather-bound book with tarnished silver clasps. “His personal journal. I thought it might contain information about his discoveries or his plans.”
Hope flickered within me. “Have you looked at it yet?”
“Only briefly while we were there. Most of it is in ancient fae script. Paranoid bastard. I can read some, but not all.” He handed it to me.
I flipped through the pages, recognizing the spidery handwriting from the notes we’d found earlier. Most was incomprehensible to me, but certain phrases caught my eye.
“He was obsessed,” I murmured. I traced my fingers over the silver mark that spiraled across my skin. Once, I’d hidden it, ashamed and afraid of the death sentence that it carried in the human lands. Now it felt like a part of me I was still only beginning to understand, and every day seemed to add an extra layer of complication to it.
“We should try the pendant again,” I said, setting aside the journal, not wanting to let any other thoughts be wasted on that vile fae. “See if we can locate Wyn more precisely.”
Thorn nodded, shifting closer. “Do you still have her charm?”
