Page 117 of Crown of Storm and Silence
Before either of us can demand clarification, he's already moving away, leaving us with the unsettling certainty that we're missing something crucial about what the ritual actually accomplished.
"Cheerful as always," Banu mutters, her wings twitching with nervous energy. "Nothing says 'loving family farewell' like thinly veiled threats about permanent magical bonds."
Zohan and Eclin stand apart from the group. Both looking like they would prefer to be anywhere else. Zohan’s golden perfection is somehow dimmed as he stares at the portal with an expression I can't read. His usual confident posture has been replaced by something that looks almost... guilty. Where he usually fills silence with concerned questions about my well-being or pointed comments about Kaan's unworthiness, today he barely acknowledges our presence."You're quiet, brother," I observe, moving to his side.
He startles violently,as if I've pulled him from deep, troubled thoughts. "Just... processing everything that's happened. It's been an eventful few days."
There's something in his tone—a careful neutrality that doesn't match his usual passionate concern for my welfare. His eyes keep darting away from mine, and there's a tension in his shoulders that speaks of secrets weighing heavily.
"Is something wrong?" I press, studying his perfect features for tells. "You've seemed... distant since yesterday."
"Nothing's wrong," he says quickly, but his eyes don't quite meet mine. "I'm just eager to leave this place. To get you somewhere safe."
Banu flutters closer with obvious interest. "You know," she says with deceptive casualness, "I could have sworn I saw you talking to one of Erlik's demons yesterday. Very cozy conversation by the blood fountain. Lots of whispering and meaningful glances."
Zohan's face flushes with immediate anger. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I've spent this entire ordeal trying to protect my sister from exactly the kind of corruption you're suggesting."
"Did I suggest corruption?" Banu asks with wide-eyed innocence. "I just mentioned a conversation. Though your defensive reaction is certainly... illuminating."
"I won't stand here and be accused by a fairy?—"
"Enough," I say sharply, stepping between them. "We're all on edge after everything we've been through. The last thing we need is to turn on each other."
But even as I play peacemaker, I can't shake the observation that Zohan's reaction was far more vehement than the situation warranted. The way his hands are trembling slightly, the careful distance he's maintaining from all of us. Something is very wrong here.
"Quite right," Kaan agrees, though his shadows are coiling restlessly. "We have a realm to return to and a child to prepare for."
The portal shimmers to life at Erlik's gesture, a tear in reality that shows glimpses of the Shadow Court's familiar twilight. Home. Safety. Everything we've been fighting to return to.
"Safe travels," Erlik calls as we approach the threshold. "And do give my regards to the Shadow Court. I'm sure we'll be seeing much more of each other now that we're... properly connected."
The promise in his voice makes my skin crawl, but there's no time to analyze it further. The portal's magic is already pulling us through, dimensional forces dragging us across the void between realms.
The journey passes in a blur of rushing darkness and whispered power, but Erlik's words echo in my mind throughout:Distance matters so little when the connection runs deep enough.
We emerge onto the familiar obsidian steps of the Shadow Court, twilight sky and crystalline spires welcoming us home. But instead of relief, I feel only growing unease as Erlik's parting words settle like poison in my thoughts.
What has he done to us? What price did we really pay for Kaan's freedom?
And why does Zohan look like he's carrying the weight of the world on his perfect shoulders?
"Home," Kaan says with satisfaction, his arm settling around my waist. "Finally home."
But as we climb the steps toward our domain, I can't shake the feeling that whatever game Erlik has been playing, it's far from over. The wrongness follows us through the palace doors like a shadow we can't quite escape, and when I glance back, I could swear I see satisfaction gleaming in Zohan's eyes before he quickly looks away.
Something is coming. Something that will test every bond we've forged, every trust we've built.
And I have the terrible suspicion that the people closest to us may not be who we think they are.
39
The Honeymoon's Shadow
Kaan
I wake before dawn,as I have every morning for the past five weeks since our return from Kara Cehennem, with the simple pleasure of breathing without poison clawing at my lungs. The absence of that taint still feels like a miracle—no silver fire racing through my veins, no whispered encouragement toward violence, just pure, clean darkness that responds to my will like a faithful hound.
Nesilhan sleeps curled against my chest, her dark hair fanned across the silk pillows in waves. The gentle swell of her belly presses against my ribs, and through our restored bond, I can feel the steady flutter of our child's heartbeat—a rhythm that never fails to steal my breath with its impossible perfection.
