Page 2 of A Court So Dark
“What… happened?” Arabis asked.
Jeondar jerked a hand, pointing at the ornate house behind us. “He killed him. That’s what happened.”
“By Erilena.” Arabis covered her mouth.
I huffed. “What would you have me do? Cuddle the traitor?”
“The king is not supposed to go around murdering denizens. Guilty or not? There should be a trial.” Jeondar droned on.
“We don’t have time for that. We have to find Cardian.”
“Your personal vendetta should not take precedence over more pressing matters. Mythorne prepares for war as we speak.”
I let go of Stormheart’s reins, took a step forward, and snatched a handful of Jeondar’s jacket. “Dani lies cold on a bed while my brother runs free plotting against me, against your precious realm. He possesses valuable information that can help the enemy. So I would say mypersonal vendettaaligns itself very well with your lofty goals for Elf-hame. But if you don’t agree with my methods, you’re welcome to scuttle back to Imbermore.”
Jeondar pushed me, trying to shake himself free of my hold. I doubled down, but Kryn wedged himself between us, while Arabis came forth and placed a hand on my arm.
“Settled down, Wölfe!” she said, her Susurro powers traveling like wind over my body.
I felt the force of her command as it burrowed itself under my skin, trying to force me into compliance.
Kalyll reared its ugly head. He pushed, trying to come to the forefront and replace me, but right now his weak tactics were not needed. Right now—
CHAPTER 2
KALYLL
Ittookallofmy will to prevail over the darkness boiling inside me. When I came to, my head was lowered, my teeth and my fists clenched. Inhaling a deep breath, I met my friends’ bewildered expressions.
“Did that work?” Arabis asked.
I nodded.
Fire burned at the tips of Jeondar’s fingers. He was looking at me with a wave of anger and wariness he’d always reserved for others, not me.
Before what happened to Daniella, I had felt in control of my shadowdrifter abilities, able to unleash them when I wanted, but without her soothing presence, and with my desperation building and building, every day that had passed without her, things had become more difficult.
Finally, my restraints had snapped and Wölfe had broken free… allowing him to commit murder.
Jeondar fanned his hands and the fire went out.
“I apologize for my behavior,” I said even as Wölfe bristled, sending bile up my throat. He was the worst of my pride, the worst of myeverything.
Jeondar didn’t acknowledge my apology, which stoked my already-incensed anger.
“As touched as I am,” Cylea intervened as if to soften the blow of Jeondar’s dismissal. “I don’t think this is the best place for further conversation. We should go.” She got on her horse in one bound and started forward, without waiting.
But I was in no mood to go anywhere with them. I kept trying to erase the image of the male’s glimmering curls as I snapped his neck.
“Arabis, can you please take Stormheart with you?” I offered her the reins.
I cared nothing for the disappointment that registered in her expression as she pulled my steed away.
“How long will this go on, brother?” Kryn asked.
“You dare ask me this?” My eyes cut in Arabis’s direction. He had been pining over her for ninety years. If he thought my yearning for Daniella was ridiculous, what did he call his own dogged persistence?
“Dani is—” He started, but I glared, and he held back what he’d been about to say. That she was as good as dead? That it wasn’t acceptable to pine over a frozen body? A near statue?
