Page 60 of What Whispers in the Dark
“So, we meet again.”
A long, slow breath escaped from her lips at the warm voice that drawled from beside her. She willed herself not to ball her fist and ignite it with starflames.
“I must say, it’s not that often I leave a female entirely wordless. I’m flattered, my lady.”
She gritted her teeth as she turned to the eldest male heir of Kadamar. “You shouldn’t be,” she warned. Then added, “And I’mnotyour lady.” Had he forgotten so soon since their encounter at the training grounds?
The princeling’s eyes twinkled at the challenge. He opened his mouth to speak through the charming smile that had climbed his face, one she didn’t doubt courted females to his arm, and she steeled herself for whatever flattery was about to leak. “Come now, my l?—”
“Apparently, Kadamarians are as deaf as they are dumb.” That voice that reminded her of the sea flooded the air. They both turned to find Aiden still draped along the crimson rugs waving up the stairs to Garrik’s throne.
Alora grinned as Ezander’s smile faded and his face rippled with annoyance.
“This is none of your concern.” The russet in Ezander’s eyes ignited like flames, sparkling in the afternoon light bursting through the towering windows and as bright as the distaste tightening his mouth. She wondered how often the male was disrespected like this. If he ever had anyone of lesser rank dare to be so insolent to his face.
Out of the shadow of the crowd, another figure prowled forward. Hand gripped on the pommel of his golden sword while that unusual shadow seemed to expand on the floor behind him. Thalon warned, “I believeourlady made clear she’s not interested.” In a purposeful sweep, Thalon banded his arm around Alora’s shoulders, cocked his head, and narrowed his eyes at the prince as if daring Ezander to retort. “Didn’t you earn enough of a beating on the cliff side?”
“Perhaps our lady could teach you a thing or two. Certainly looked like you bloody-well needed it.” Aiden’s smirk was more sinister than the stormy waves at sea.
Something bloomed in Alora’s chest the moment Aiden, too, stood and fell in beside her. Though she never had the example of one, she imagined them mirroring how older brothers defended their younger sibling. And in that moment, she was unashamed, delighted even, to admit that this kind of attention and protection, which the two unexpected predators she’d come to know and love were now cocooning her in—no matter how unnecessary—she enjoyed.
Most of Ezander’s body had tensed as if to restrain himself, but he didn’t retreat.
Not even as the floor trembled. As every faelight flickered and dimmed.
Aiden and Thalon exchanged baiting glances.
“Make like your father’s hairline, back the hells up,” Aiden said coolly and threw his gaze to the left of his shoulder. At the throne room door, where darkness unsettlingly danced. “Beforeyour death is due to your mouth and not your sword. What an embarrassing way for a prince to die.”
There, breaking the barrier of darkness, a body covered in unholy night emerged.
Ezander paled.
It was an effort to keep her breathing steady. To keep her heart from hammering against its cage.
Those eyes, simmering with endless abyss, regarded her. Step by haunting step, Garrik parted the crowd gathered, slowly sinking to their knees as if his presence weighed on them like the very mountain the castle was hewn from.
“Make your move, princeling,” Aiden singsonged, followed by the rhythmic sound of his tongue clicking like the hands of the watch in his pocket.
“Perhaps another time then.” Ezander sharply gestured a bow with his chin, and slipped between the shadows of the crowd, out of sight.
From the way Garrik’s abyss for eyes tracked the movement, he wasn’t pleased about Ezander’s presence. And Alora knew by the way he carried his sword beside him, crushing the hilt with his fist. How he prowled like a beast in the night, hungry for blood, that if Ezander hadn’t moved …
Andstars. Did she find it difficult to admit. She loved this side of him.
Ezander hadn’t stopped looking at Garrik for some time after their luncheon at The Ruby Crown. Alora caught him, often, with a scowl. Opening his mouth as if to speak, only to close it and school his features into the perfectly calm and carefree heir to Land and Growth.
And after they had climbed into riverboats, touring the grand river that weaved through the Blackstone Mountains, Ezander, it seemed, had enough of his silence.
But the words he spoke … the pain in his voice.
The pleading in his eyes …
Perhaps some truth lay there.
But by Garrik’s wrathful face pointed back at them, perhaps not.
This isa bonus scene from Chapter Forty during the first outing in Kadamar’s High City alongside Princess Erissa and Prince Ezander. Garrik had to endure the day with Erissa hanging on his arm while Alora entertained Ezander’s attention, getting to know him and the secrets he harbored a little more.
