Page 97 of Song of the Shadow Prince
Instead of returning to the Ryder residence where Lord Zacharia anxiously awaited my arrival, I headed for the beach house. It was long past evening, which meant Damien should be there by now. He was probably pissed I wasn’t there. I spent the rest of the carriage ride thinking up a solid excuse for why I was late, since I couldn’t tell Damien about my conversation with the seer. Should I tell him about Lord Malachai? He would certainly be mad if he found out I had to pay off a minister, but I wondered how mad. Lately things between Damien and I had become…complicated.
I wasn’t sure what drew me to the Shadow Prince, but I couldn’t afford to get attached. Especially not now that the path home was within reach.
The instant the carriage rolled to a stop in front of the beach house, the driver bounded off his seat and helped me down the steps. I rushed up to the house and flung open the door, letting myself inside and calling out to the warlock as I shut the door behind me.
“Where have you been?” Damien barreled down the stairs with the warlock trailing behind him. “I’ve been waiting here for hours!”
My eyes widened as I watched him. His firm body moved fluidly, his muscles contracting as he stormed toward me. I gulped. “Sorry,” I muttered sheepishly. “I had to run an errand for Lord Zacharia.”
Damien glared at me and looked me up and down, searching for injuries. “What did he want?”
I shook my head and changed the subject. “Nothing important. What did your uncle say? Did he agree to help us?”
Damien pursed his lips together as if he wanted to argue with me, but he thought better of it and nodded. “He’s already sent his servant to the Underclaw and secured a spot for the fight this Saturday night.”
My eyes widened. “That’s amazing! Does he know where it will be held?”
He shook his head. “They said they’ll pick him up. According to what his servant learned from some insiders, he’ll be blindfolded for the trip to an undisclosed location. They’re very secretive.”
“Damn,” I grumbled. “We won’t be able—”
“I’llbe following him,” he cut me off. “We’ll find the location. It’s obviously not the Nightfall Citadel.”
“Oh… okay.” I nodded in agreement, and then his words sank in and I fought to maintain my excitement. If Damien followed Royal Prince Bai to the fight Saturday night, then no one would be around to monitor me. That meant I could sneak away to River Elara and get back home. This just might work! I wouldn’t be able to solve the vampire issue completely, but Damien would. I bit my lip to keep from smiling.
“You okay, my lady?” Garrick finally commented.
With a start, I remembered he was in the room. I snapped my gaze towards him. “Oh? Oh! Yes! I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine, my lady.” Garrick watched me carefully. “You look…”
“I swear I’m fine, Garrick! I’m just flushed a bit. Is it hot in here? I’m hot.” I fanned myself and avoided eye contact.
Garrick swiveled between me and Damien and then he smirked and gave me a knowing look. “Right…” he murmured. “You know what, my lady? I think I need a bit of a break. Why don’t I leave you two here tonight while I go spend some coin?” He grinned and ambled toward the door.
“What?” I gasped and reached for his sleeve. “Wait, no! Where are you going?”
He winked. “Just going to gamble for a bit. Enjoy the house,” he whispered, then ripped his sleeve from my grasp and practically ran out of the house.
“What just happened?” My mouth fell open and my face heated. “That isnotwhat I was hinting at, at all.”
“Where did he go?” Damien asked from behind me, his voice loud and deep.
I hiccupped and clutched my chest. “Uh… he went out for the night, so… it’s just us.” There was a lengthy pause before he cleared his throat. I turned around to face him and saw Damien’s eyes narrowed on me.
The Shadow Prince’s presence filled the room with tangible, cloaking tension. The beach house, a serene sanctuary filled with the gentle disorder of art supplies and canvases, now felt like a stage for a more personal confrontation. Paints and brushes lay scattered across a table, illuminated by the soft glow of the lamp that cast long shadows across the floor. The faint smell of oil paint mixed with the crisp night air that seeped in through an open window.
“What exactly were you doing for Lord Zacharia that kept you from meeting me here sooner?” Damien’s voice was controlled, but there was an edge to it, a hint of something dangerous.
I hesitated, aware that any slip could further complicate things. “It was just a small errand,” I replied, keeping my voice even. “Nothing to worry about, Damien.”
He stepped closer, his height and the breadth of his shoulders suddenly very imposing. “I find that hard to believe,” he said softly, his gaze intense. “You seem distracted tonight… different. What aren’t you telling me?”
The heat from his body seeped into my pores and his subtle scent mingled with the earthy tones of the paint. The effect was disarming, and despite my resolve, I was caught up in the moment, the space between us charged with unspoken friction.
“Damien, I...” I stopped, unsure how much to reveal.
He reached out and gently lifted my chin so I had to look at him. “Cat, you can trust me. Whatever it is, I’ll protect you.”
