Page 52 of Crown of Light and Ashes
"A fairy," Kaan says, voice dangerously soft. His shadows tighten, and Banu breathes in sharply. "My wife has been consorting with a fairy within my palace walls." His eyes bore into mine, searching, probing. "For how long?"
Banu opens her mouth to answer, but hesitates, looking uncomfortable in the shadows' grip.
"Longer than you've been aware of my presence," Banu replies, maintaining her composure. "Though I must say, your court has been rather interesting to observe."
Kaan's shadows tighten around her, sliding up her form. Banu's eyes widen slightly as they brush against her throat.
"Fairies are forbidden in the Shadow Court," Kaan states coldly. "Their magic interferes with ours."
"Hence my usual invisibility," Banu replies with a slight edge to her voice. "Which worked splendidly until your recent encounter with that curse enhanced your magical perception."
"I could crush you with a thought," Kaan threatens, shadows darkening around her form.
Banu meets his gaze steadily. "You could try. However, fairy death tends to be rather explosive. Magical backlash and all that. Might level half this wing of the palace."
"Let her go!" I cry, genuine rage breaking through my shock. Light magic flares between my fingers as I lunge forward.
Kaan's shadows snare my wrists before I can strike, yanking me against his chest with enough force to knock the breath from my lungs. His bare skin burns against mine, hard muscle pressing through the thin fabric of my dress, igniting awareness that spreads like wildfire. My body betrays me instantly, nipples hardening against his chest, a shameful heat pooling between my thighs.
"You find this concerning?" he demands of me, fingers digginginto my waist. "Your fairy conspirator threatens to destroy my palace, and you defend her?"
His shadows slide across my skin in warning, but the sensation sends shivers of unwanted pleasure through me. I bite my lip to keep from gasping, but the bond betrays me, carrying my response directly to him.
"To be fair," Banu interjects, her voice gaining a measure of steadiness though her eyes remain wide with fear, "it was more of a statement of fact than a threat. Like saying water is wet."
The shadows around her throat tighten slightly, and she falls silent, her eyes fixed on Kaan with a mixture of defiance and terror.
"That's what this is about," he says slowly, understanding dawning in his eyes. "The fairy gives you something to block our bond. That's why I've barely sensed you since our wedding night."
Banu's gaze flickers to mine, apology clear in her expression. The shadows constrict again, and she flinches visibly, a small gasp escaping her lips.
"I have good reason," Banu says, her voice gaining strength as she straightens against the shadows' grip. Her eyes flash with sudden protective intensity. "Look, Shadow Boy, with all your heated emotions constantly swirling around, I need to protect my friend from your intrusive desires. Every time you look at her, it's like a tidal wave of longing pouring through the bond. A girl needs some privacy, not a constant barrage of your unfiltered thoughts about what you'd like to do to her."
I glance up at Kaan. His jaw tightens, but a flicker of amusement crosses his features before hardening back to anger.
"The bond can be overwhelming for someone from the Light Court," Banu continues more seriously. "Their magic works differently—privacy is sacred to them. And I won't apologize for protecting my friend from an unwanted intrusion."
Despite the shadows around her, Banu's hair begins to shift back to its vibrant colors, her protective instinct for me overriding her concern for herself.
"Banu, enough," I warn, concerned about how much she might reveal.
Kaan's grip on me tightens, his shadows swirling with increased agitation. "You block our bond deliberately," he says, his voice low and dangerous. "With fairy magic."
I lift my chin defiantly. "Yes. I value my privacy."
"The light customs," Banu adds, with a careful glance at me, "are quite different from shadow practices. Their magic requires mental boundaries."
"I sense you're hiding something else," Kaan says, his gaze traveling between us. "Something important."
I maintain a carefully neutral expression. "I hide many things. That's the purpose of the potion."
Banu meets my eyes briefly, a silent understanding passing between us. The prophecy remains our secret—for now.
The bond between us pulses with sudden clarity as the potion's effect continues to fade. A flood of emotions, not just his but mine as well, flows freely between us. My frustration with Banu. My anxiety. My unwilling physical response to his proximity.
Kaan's lips curve into a slow, dangerous smile as he feels it all. "So my secretive bride blocks our bond with fairy potions." He laughs suddenly, the sound both genuinely amused and slightly unsettling. "And here I thought married life would be mundane."
His attention returns to Banu, who meets his gaze with unexpected boldness, though I can see the lingering tension in her shoulders.
