Page 14 of Thief of Souls
He rules. Absolutely. And with his longevity, the concept of an heir makes his lip curl.
“The Blessed courts were starting to look north,” Ruhle grates. “Someone had to ensure they didn’t cross the Shadowfangs.”
“How brave of you, to take a captain’s job—”
“You little slut.” Ruhle starts toward me, his fist clenching. “Your bitch sister isn’t here to save you now—”
“Enough.” The word cuts through us and we both kneel toward Father as he watches us with simmering fury in his eyes.
The word echoes through the throne room with all the finality of the chancellor bringing his staff down on the slate floors with a ringing thump.
“Yes, Father.” Both Ruhle and I parrot, as we bow our heads.
But I can sense my brother’s cold glare.
I’ll pay for that little moment, but he won’t dare try to kill me. I’m still valuable to my father, and while Ruhle might have murdered three of our weaker brothers, he doesn’t dare touch the king’s Shadow Walker.
He’d also have to catch me first.
“I have a task for you, Zemira,” Father continues as we both straighten.
Twice in one night. A girl can only be so lucky.
“And here I thought you were prepared to welcome me back into your loving embrace,” I reply. “Imagine that. What would you have of me?”
“You failed me this summer. I sent you to steal the Dragon’s Heart from the Court of Dreams, and not only did you fail to find it, but you mistook it for this worthless scrap of gold.”
He flings something at my feet.
A golden amulet shaped like a dragon’s claw. It fetches up by my bare feet. The last time I saw it, it hung around Prince Keir’s muscled throat, but my sister stole it and presented it to my father as the Heart.
Stillness runs through me. This moment is dangerous.
Because I mistook nothing.
The Dragon’s Heart was never a relic. No, it was a story twisted to hide the truth of the matter: Many, many years ago, Keir was one of the powerful dragon kings who ruled this world. Rumors abound that when the fae went to war with the dragon kings, the dragons turned to stone and withdrew from the world.
But Keir merely focused his magic upon himself.
He forged a new body, one that looks fae enough to pass, and he tore his court from the mortal planes, anchoring it in an Other World that sits alongside ours. Now he’s nothing more than a powerful prince in the eyes of the Blessed courts.
If anyone knew the truth of his heritage, there would be war again.
It was never a relic I was searching for. But his heart is another matter. If my father could cut it from Keir’s chest, he wouldn’t merely have the power to break the curse that afflicts wraithenkind and binds us to the icy north, he could tear apart the entire Seelie hegemony.
And I can stop him.
All I need do is keep this one secret from him. I can finally thwart him, even if it costs me.
So I lower my eyes. “My mistake, Father. I’m sorry.”
Ruhle’s smile is the kiss of a knife against my throat. “We’re only ever allowed one,” he whispers. “You seem to be at your quota.”
I swallow down the temptation to retort. “What would you have of me, my king?”
“Your sister is missing,” Raesh tells me.
Not a dream.It wasn’t a dream at all. Which means that Keir truly demanded I find the Horn of Shadows for him.
