Chapter 6
Kade
The screaming of the Fae trapped in the dungeons served as a reminder that Thames held no room for mercy.
“Turn willingly and you can be free, or”—he leaned into a Fae who had resisted arrest earlier in the day,—“fight me, and I’ll make you mine, whether you like it or not. Either way you will submit.”
The man spit in Thames’s face.
He’s fighting more than you are.
The obnoxious voice I attributed to my own magic seethed at me. I flipped the black-tipped dagger in my hand, unbothered by their antics.
You don’t know what you’re talking about, I argued.
In retribution, the fucking things pulsed inside of me, and when they did, that spark in my core flared.
Lana loves you. Our mate is out there. Start fighting back.
I stopped tossing the blade in my hand, drowning out the sounds of Thames’s final offer toward the unrelenting man.
Lana.
Thinking her name made the light grow, pounding through the murky darkness filling me from the inside out.
A small, useless section of my mind flared to life. My subconscious screaming alongside the will of my shadows. For her.
Now hold on to that.
“Kade,” Thames barked. His scrutinizing eyes scanned me as he leaned against the wall, arms folded, beside the man bound and chained. Could he see the inner demons I battled?
I approached, malice spreading once more through my veins as the man jerked against his restraints. Blood dripped from his wrists as the chains dug mercilessly into the skin from his futile attempts to escape.
“Show our guest how painful the darkness can be when it’s resisted,” Thames instructed. “Slowly.”
“My pleasure,” I rasped, swirling the blade in my hand.
My shadows strained against the evil inside of me as I stabbed the black-tipped edge into the man’s gut.
I reveled slicing through the layers of skin.
Technically all it takes is one little cut for someone to be infected.
That’s what those willingly accepting the darkness received—a slit on their thigh, somewhere fleshy.
The marking appeared immediately along their arm, designating them as belonging to Thames.
It was easy and agony free. For the most part.
Those who fought secured a much worse treatment. If need be, Thames healed them, aiding whatever magic they possessed after I cut into their skin. Killing them did us no good. We had to ensure our army of dark ones survived no matter the cost.
I knew Thames derived greater joy from those who resisted, so I played my part. Each dark one I infected shrouded my own mind in more of the murkiness. Each stab, each thrust of the knife fueled the beast within to drown out the pesky magic reminding me of my past.
Nothing from that time was here now anyway. That Kade was gone.
No. She’s waiting for you, you fool.
The forceful tone took me by surprise, enough to make me still my blade. Instead of noticing it as hesitation, Thames grinned at the man who’d started screaming.
"Now, now, enough of all that noise.” Thames rolled his neck from side to side before leaning down.
“You’ve done well, lasted longer than I expected, but I can’t have this taking so long.
Since you clearly won’t choose loyalty to someone stronger than you, someone willing to give you, a mere lesser Fae, the chance of power beyond your wildest dreams, I will give you a different choice. I am a gracious king after all.”
Thames looked over his shoulder, smiling at me. I knew what he wanted: my attention. An audience. A puppet to feed his ego.
You know this is wrong.
My shadows released themselves inside me again, letting that ball of perfect light show momentarily. A warmth crashed over me like a wave, burning my insides like fire. Suddenly, I realized what my shadows had been doing all along.
Fates, no. What was I doing? Lana. The pain in my chest, the light. It was all Lana. I’d succumbed to the darkness instead of fighting for her.
The scene in front of me finally registered, forcing images in my mind of every death at my hands since Thames took over.
Every damned one.
I stepped back slightly, swallowing down the growing chasm of guilt while plastering a cruel smile on my face.
My mind reeled, knowing I had to hide my thoughts lest Thames take notice of my change in demeanor.
His power tightened in response to the light peeking through from the bond, but my shadows fought back, unyielding.
Now do you see?
My magic not only fought the darkness inside of me, but it wrapped itself around that tether to Lana. Protecting it.
I must do the same.
“I can throw you into the volcano in Firestone—after my army tortures you. Though brutal, your death will enhance my weapon there.” My attention caught on his words, and I tried not to show too much interest. “Or…my monster’s shadows can kill you here.
” Thames had no intention of letting the man go without turning him.
This scare tactic had worked on plenty of Fae for the past few hours.
Although his mention of the weapon was a new addition.
Thames leaned in, a repulsive sneer on his face as he hissed at the man. “The choice is yours.”
The prisoner held on to his conviction, refusing to turn. I had to admire him for his fortitude. Though the evil inside me relished the disobedience for what it would get to do, I couldn’t stop the sense of pride at the man’s strength.
“Volcano,” the man spat. “And I’ll be sure every single one of your minions gets infected with the truth before they destroy me.”
Thames chuckled and glanced my way, ignoring the man momentarily. “One good thing your weak father did before I returned was beginning my creation at Firestone.” He turned back to the man, a bored sort of indifference falling over his face. “There is nothing but darkness there, I’ve ensured it.”
It took more of my willpower than I cared to admit to stay standing. I gritted my teeth, as Thames’s darkness and my shadows battled for dominance.
My mind shifted between knowing Thames could bring us the power we deserve, and remembering he was the villain of our story. That he’d hurt the people I loved.
The light in my chest flared. The brave man in front of me deserved better. A feeling of resolve washed over me as the shadows agreed and choked the darkness.
I tucked away the curiosity at Thames’s volcano project and focused, unleashing my shadows quickly, and snapped the man’s neck before he even realized what was happening. The deafening crack echoed in the damp cell, and the warrior’s body hung limp seconds later.
I shoved as much of myself into that space of light as I could, locking it down and praying Lana would forgive me.
Fates, let me be able to forgive myself too.
Thames jerked his attention toward me, but instead of anger, there was an eerie glint in his eyes.
Guilt gnawed at me as my spirit faltered and deflated.
“Ah, there's my pet,” Thames chuckled. “I underestimated your thirst for blood.”
I bowed my head, trying to hide the relief and indecision warring for control.
The inexplicable pain at what I’d done on top of worrying about Lana nearly had me doubling over. She had to be safe. Storm and the others would protect her.
Thames approached me, patting my cheek with pride.
His magic flared inside of me, but I held on to thoughts of Lana. My mate. How could I have forgotten my mate? I clung to my love for her, letting the tether to her burn through his influx of darkness.
“Apologies, my king. It has been a few hours since my last kill. I simply wanted to make this one memorable.”
Thames’s laughter bounced around us off the walls, the wailing in the dungeons ceasing at the wicked sound. “It happens to the best of us.”
Too quickly his eyes narrowed, and he snatched the blackened dagger from my hand and stabbed it into my thigh.
Gritting my teeth, I swallowed down the pained noise attempting to escape my throat.
He leaned in. “Even you must be reminded who’s in control here.” He twisted the blade, and I couldn’t stop the sharp inhale through my nose.
His darkness surged inside of me, more powerful than before.
No! my shadows yelled as they hurried to protect Lana’s light.
That negative emotion, the unexpected influx of Thames’s magic and the blade was all the darkness needed to fight back against my advantage.
More in tune with my magic, I felt my shadows firmly close around my bond with Lana, protecting it fiercely. Only, their focus on the most important part of me left me with nothing to battle the evil.
I slipped inside my mind again, losing myself as a vengeful force eliminated my doubts.
Thames looked at me with a sense of pride.
I did that—made him proud. I would ensure his vision was brought to life. Loyalty. Unlike the traitors down here.
“I think you’re ready,” he said, clasping a hand on my shoulder as he removed the blade from my thigh. A blade I barely felt now with Thames’s power radiating through me, stronger than any wound.
“It’s time.”
“Time?” I asked.
That sinister grin returned to his face, his eyes turning pitch black as he pulled me close. “There’s a problem we must eliminate. Bring me”—he leaned in, whispering the next words with disgust in my ear—“your mate.”