Page 74 of A Court So Dark
A shadowdrifter’s power was only bestowed to their firstborn child, and Kalyll bore that title.
“But I think,” he went on, “it was my relationship with Arabis that undid whatever love he might have felt for me.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shrugged. “I suffer not for the loss of a father. I only suffer for… her.”
“If only you two could work things out. It’s obvious you care for each other.”
“I suppose I’m an open book, am I not? But Arabis… she holds no tenderness for me, not anymore.”
I shook my head. “You’re mistaken. She loves you.”
“You are the one who is mistaken, Dani. You don’t know Arabis well enough. What you mistake for love is nothing more than civility and respect for the Sub Rosa.”
“That can’t be right.” I had seen Arabis’s concern for Kryn whenever he was in danger and the furtive looks she sent his way whenever she thought no one was paying attention. There was way more than just civility in those blue eyes of hers.
Kryn smiled sadly. “Trust me. I know. I’ve been at the receiving end of her civility for a long time. It feels nothing like…” He trailed off. “Never mind.”
Despite his gloomy words, I had a feeling he still held hope. “Did something happen between you two in Nerethien?”
His head snapped in my direction. “What makes you say that? Did she mention something?”
“No. I just thought I perceived… a change. Some tension between you.”
He was quiet for so long that I thought he wasn’t going to say anything, and when he finally did, I was surprised that he would confide in me.
“We shared a kiss,” he said in a voice so gentle that it sounded nothing like the Kryn I knew. “But before you say that this means she loves me. It doesn’t. She was… drunk, and she doesn’t hold her liquor well. I took advantage of the situation, which she made abundantly clear.”
“You do know that alcohol lowers our inhibitions, don’t you?”
I wanted to say more, but we arrived at his father’s chamber, and he immediately opened the door and entered.
As I’d expected, everyone was there already—except for Mylendra, who needed to remain in Kryn’s chamber, since no servants bothered to go there.
“Has he stirred?” I approached the bed.
“No,” Jeondar said, “but I think he has regained some of his color.”
Quickly, I checked the pulse on his wrist. It was stronger than before, though not by much. Jeondar was right, though, his lips and cheeks were slightly pink—not ghost-white, like before. I checked the time. He had been out for nearly two hours.
“He should stay unconscious until morning, I hope,” I said.
“What about this one?” Silver pointed to the guard that had been standing outside the earl’s door. They had brought him in and laid him on a settee.
“Witchlights, I forgot about him.” I rushed to his side and checked his vitals. His pulse wasn’t as strong as the earl’s, but it was within a safe range. “He’ll sleep longer, but he’ll be all right.” His Fae healing ability would make sure of that.
Glancing around the room, I met Larina’s gaze. She smiled and flew over from her place atop a pile of books on a side table.
“You look tired,” she said.
“I am. You?”
“Restless.” She pointed toward a spot at the foot of the bed. “I put your messenger bag there.”
“Thank you.” The batch of transformation potions Naesala had made for us was in there. “Everything depends on that.”
Larina shook her head. “No. Everything depends on you and the king.”
