Page 94 of The Shadow Prince's Ruin
The vast bedroom is illuminated by stars, but I see well in the dark, and the two shapes resting in the huge four-poster bed remain still, curled together under the thick comforter.
All I need to do is get close enough to sprinkle the spores in their faces. This will offer me enough time to tie them up.
The floor gives the faintest creak under my weight, and I still with my heart in my throat, but nothing happens. The waft of musky perfume reaches my nose as I continue my careful journey through the bedchamber. I can see the couple more clearly now, and my chest tightens at the way Kyran cradles his Dark Companion, as if he wants to stand between him and all the danger in the world. Hawk holds me this way too, even during the long trek through the marshland, when we barely spoke, rattled by what I’ve done with his shadow at The Burning Corpse, he was there to support me. I shall free him from the Sunwolf’s clutches, even if it’s the last thing I ever do!
My lungs are tight as I lean close, listening to two breaths, two heartbeats, and I’m about to make my move when something shuffles in the corner of the room. And then—
Loud shrieks cut through the silence, followed by metallic clacks that sound as if a rat were trying to free itself from a cage, and I drop the precious spores, because the larger of the two men on the bed is already rising.
I cannot see his eyes, but his gaze feels heavy nevertheless. Before I can think or act, or… do anything, a shadow tentacle rushes up my body, locking around my neck. My stomach protests when it tugs, but by the time my knees hit the floor, a lamp comes on, illuminating Lord Kyran, who stands over me like the personification of the Darkmoon, about to pass judgment.
Fuck.
Chapter 38
Sylvan
Itry to speak, excuse my presence in the royal bedchamber, but as soon as I open my mouth a tentacle made of shadow smacks my face. It then stuffs itself into my mouth, gagging me.
“How dare you?” comes out of Lord Kyran’s mouth in a low growl.
No matter how much I resent him, I have to admit that he is an impressive elf. Tall, wide in the shoulders, muscular, and since he’s wearing nothing but a pair of dark green silken pants, two shadow eels are visible on his pale chest, like moving tattoos. His long dark gray hair is like the waves of Grief Ocean during a storm, and I half-expect his mane to rise in the charged air.
“I’ve shown you mercy! Banishment instead of execution, and you invade my home with poison?” He points to the vial on the floor. “You are no better than a rat.”
Behind him, Luke leaves the bed. “What’s going on?” he asks, frightened. He might be much shorter than Kyran, but is still bigger than me, which fills me with frustration as I writhe inbinds stronger than steel. Pale, with messy brown hair dyed green at the bottom, he is so plain he had to put a ring in his nose to feel special. And yet, unlike me, he is celebrated at court.
Luke slides his feet into a pair of slippers and rushes over to the cage where the critter that gave me away resides. It didn’t occur to me that someone would keep theirpet batin their bedroom. I loathe this creature that stood between myself and victory.
Kyran scowls and gestures toward me, as if I’m a stain on his carpet. “My wretched cousin, Sylvan, attempted to attack us in our sleep. I don’t know how he moved past the guards and sigils, but I will not just leave this!” He turns to me, and dark shadows dance in his gray eyes. “You know I have the right to kill you? The only reason you’re not dead yet is my husband’s sensibility.”
“It’s okay, Flap,” Luke says, pulling the bat out of its cage and hugging it like a child as it whimpers, pushing its ugly face against the human’s chest. In the long black nightshirt decorated with lace at the bottom, he is strangely reminiscent of a young parent tending to their child at night. The purple bat has a matching outfit.
His gaze lands on me, and even though there is no love between us, I do try to plead with my eyes. If only I can speak up before I lose my head, I’ll be able to at least try to convince them that they need to help me for their own benefit. Because I doubt they would do so out of the goodness of their hearts.
Luke glances at his husband as he strokes the bat’s fur, which peeks out from under the black costume it’s wearing. “Kyran, he looks… haggard.”
“Of course he does, my love. What else could we expect from a rat who illegally escaped banishment, murdered one of my grimsmiths, and now made an attempt on our lives?” Kyran says, pacing in front of me, as if he wants to flaunt how perfectof an example of a noble elf he is. “Perhaps you should return to bed? I will deal with him.”
Luke attempts to tidy up his brown-green hair. To no avail, as he has to hold the bat with one arm. “No, I need to know what’s going on. I know firsthand that Best Burgers Bonanza is a shitty place to work at, but is that worth dying over?”
Kyran shakes his head, and if glares could kill, I’d be dead. “Oh yes. He isthatpetty. He thinks that just because he found himself a powerful Dark Companion, he can come here to challenge me? Nobody can challenge me. I am the Lord of the Nocturne Court, Ruler of the Shadowild and Protector of the Nightmare Realm. I saved our shores only months back, while youran, Sylvan.”
I mumble in denial, but it’s no use with the damn gag.
I despise Luke for the pity he exudes when he looks at me, but he is my only hope. Kyran’s so bull-headed, he’d sooner rip my head off than let me speak. So I stare at the human without blinking, and beg with my eyes. I don’t have any shame left.
Luke frowns and strokes Kyran’s arm. “Where is his Dark Companion then?”
Kyran stalls, capturing his husband’s gaze. His large, graceful hand finds the head of the bat and scratches it between the comically long ears. Doubts pass over the handsome features, but then the shadow tentacle retreats from my mouth.
“This might be your only chance to speak ever again, so answer my Companion.”
“I have found the Sunwolf Crown!” I blurt out immediately, because appealing to Kyran’s selfish interests has a chance to hook him so that I can plead my case.
Luke has no idea what this is about, but Kyran leans back, as if the beast were already coming for him. “Do you… have it?” he asks in a steady voice, then answers instead of letting me speak.“No, your Companion must have it. That was how you decided to ensure your safety in case something likethishappened.”
The human pets the bat’s black wing when it whimpers again. “What is that? What crown?”
