Chapter 36 #2
“Who is he?” I whispered, suddenly wishing I hadn’t come to this place, because I had grossly underestimated the power these unseelie wielded as if it was nothing.
Being with Kaeleron had made me forget the things I had read about the kings and histories of the other courts, and the unseelie. I had lowered my guard and had almost paid the price for it.
“Kalyn the Clawed, king of the Nightmare Court.” He cast a black look in the direction of the male, one that softened towards concern as his gaze met mine again and he searched my eyes.
“The Nightmare Court hold a power mortals feared most among my breed, one that shaped their view of all of us even when most of the courts cannot wield it. The strongest among them can sow discord with little more than a look into your eyes or a drop of your blood.”
“Discord?” I resisted the pressing urge to look at the Nightmare King. “Wait. He manipulated me? Hijacked my body? Like Oberon did to Morden?”
And he had tried to make me throw myself over the banister.
Panic engulfed me, making my hands shake as I stared wide-eyed at Kaeleron, struggling to pull air down into my tight lungs.
This king had controlled me. Had tried to make me kill myself.
Why? I didn’t even know the bastard and he had no reason to hurt me like that.
Had he done it because he knew I wasn’t like him?
Because he wanted to amuse himself? I risked a swift glance at him to find him staring at Kaeleron.
Because I was a weakness he could exploit to harm Kaeleron?
“I do not know how Oberon possesses such power, and he will not speak of it. But what he possesses will be but a sliver of the power Kalyn commands. Do not stray near him, little wolf. Do not look into his eyes. I have cast protection over you, but you must keep your guard up. He has already sunk his claws into your mind. It will be difficult to shake off that hold, but you must. Hold your mental barriers in place to ward off his nightmares.” He slid the male another cutting glare as shadows shifted against his shoulders, restless and sharp.
I had the feeling that if we hadn’t been in the grand ballroom of the high king that the two of them would have been tearing into each other already rather than acting as close to civil as they could manage.
“Isn’t it a bit of an overstep to use that kind of power during a ball?
Won’t the high king be angry if his subjects run around making people kill themselves?
” I rubbed at my throat as I remembered with chilling clarity how he had made me feel, and how easily I had believed it, and how close I had come to doing what he wanted.
I felt violated, and angry, and I wanted revenge but I knew it would be my death if I went after him.
Now I knew how Morden felt.
Powerless.
And still those claws raked softly over my mind, seeking an entrance I denied them as I focused to push them out again.
“Elduin has strong ties to the Nightmare Court. They share blood. The ruling family of the Nightmare Court is a branch of his bloodline, separated from them millennia ago but still bound to them.” Kaeleron lifted his gaze from the male, settling it elsewhere.
I looked there, at a dark-haired male seated on a golden throne on a dais at the far side of the room, near the right hand wall that had towering windows rather than mirrors between the columns.
“Elduin is the high king?” I had never heard his name uttered by Kaeleron before and I didn’t recall reading about him in the library.
Kaeleron nodded and slid me a warning look. “Remain far from him and other members of the Nightmare Court. Do not underestimate them and do not lower your guard.”
I nodded, because I damned well wasn’t going anywhere near that bastard who still lingered on the stairs watching us, that wretched mocking smirk still in place as he preened his short black hair, or the high king who surveyed his people with a bored but cutting look on his face, as if none of them met his standards.
Kaeleron gripped my upper arm, holding it fiercely as he guided me down the stairs, placing himself between me and Kalyn.
I kept my gaze firmly fixed on the stairs, pretending I was watching my step rather than avoiding looking at him.
When we reached the bottom step, my breath left my tight lungs in a rush.
I refused to let my trembling legs give out beneath me.
Rather than tucking my tail between my legs and running, I held my head up and straightened my shoulders, and walked beside Kaeleron as if I belonged there.
As if I was worthy of a place at his side.
Even as the poison Kalyn had dripped into my mind tried to tear my fragile courage and threadbare confidence apart with the claws he had been named for. I was worthless. Unfit to be in the presence of these unseelie.
I shook off those words, aware they weren’t my own feelings. It was hard though, whatever spell Kaeleron had placed on me not enough to banish them from my mind.
“Saphi.” Vyr’s gentle voice cut through the crowd ahead of me and she growled under her breath as she pushed through two groups that merged into one right in front of her, blocking her path to us.
She huffed as she made it through, earning a chastising look from Kaeleron.
“Do try to act with at least a modicum of grace, sister.” He released my arm.
Vyr’s gaze was as cutting as the daggers I felt sure she had hidden somewhere about her person, beneath the layers of the beautiful onyx dress she wore that was close to mine in style and adornments.
Only hers had an intricate web of silver metal filigree over her corset, as if she was wearing the finest form of armour ever seen.
Her black and silver deer mask did nothing to conceal her irritation at her brother.
“You look beautiful.” Vyr clutched me at arm’s length and looked me over. “I hope he at least told you that before he recklessly brought you here. Really, brother, what were you thinking? You should have at least bespelled her before entering. I saw Kalyn on the stairs. What did he do to you?”
She looked back at me.
“He… it doesn’t matter. I’m fine.” I tried to shrug it off, but I could feel those claws ripping at me, slowly shredding my confidence.
Another group moved past us, several nodding in greeting to Kaeleron and Jenavyr, and two of them wore wolf masks. I looked from them to Kael.
“Members of the Shadow Court. I thought you would not enjoy being the only wolf tonight.” He smiled faintly at me and then glanced in the direction of the high king, before dragging his gaze back to me, somehow avoiding the worried look Vyr was now giving him.
Those claws in my mind slowly faded and then disappeared, and I risked a glance over my shoulder, finding Kalyn had moved on.
No doubt he was amusing himself with another victim.
I scanned the crowd, my blood still running cold as my wolf side snarled at me to keep my guard up even if he wasn’t near me.
I didn’t know how far his power extended.
He might have distanced himself to make me lower my guard before he attacked my mind again.
I spotted the bastard at the other end of the room, speaking with another male I had every intention of avoiding tonight.
The high king.
The two of them looked awfully friendly as they stood on the dais, talking and surveying the crowd. Were they related? They had the same pale silver eyes and black hair, and similar builds, although Elduin appeared older. But I couldn’t be sure since Kalyn wore a mask, and the high king did not.
When Kalyn looked in my direction, I averted my gaze, avoiding him.
My gaze tracked the people as they passed us, coming and going between the doors to my right that had been opened onto what looked like a terrace, and the stairs to my left or the tables that had been set up with drinks and bite-sized food.
I focused on several of the people who stalked past me, focusing my senses on them and trying to discern their power among the blend of everyone present.
Any one of the males who passed me could be another king—another person to avoid at all costs.
I didn’t know what any of them actually looked like, or how their power might feel to me, but it was a pleasant diversion while Vyr berated Kael a second time.
A white-haired male in a pale fox mask cut through the crowd, heading towards me from the dancefloor.
My senses locked on to him and I breathed deep, catching the scent of snow among the swirling maelstrom of ash, spice and more woodsy smells as he neared us.
Rather than heading for the stairs or the drinks, he continued striding right towards me, several people moving out of his path and glaring at him as they brushed at glittering flecks on their black gowns or tunics.
“What a pleasure to finally meet you.” He bowed regally, his firm lips curling in a soft and pleasant enough smile as he straightened, and caught me looking at Kael and Vyr, and then to the empty space beside me, sure he wasn’t talking to me.
With a flourish, he swept his hand through the air, producing a rose that looked as if it was made of crystal.
Not crystal.
Ice.
Unsure what to do, I reached for it.
Shadows slashed it into pieces before I could take it and it scattered across the black marble at my feet, rapidly melting into tiny puddles of water.
The male’s smile went from pleasant to roguish in a heartbeat, the left corner of his mouth tilting upwards as he kept his gaze fixed on me, ignoring Kaeleron as he loomed like a malevolent and wrathful shadow at my side.
“I can see why Kaeleron failed to return to the war. There were better conquests—”
“I’m not a conquest.” I cut him off, certain now that I knew who he was and that he wouldn’t dare try to make me kill myself or anything like it.
His bright blue eyes shifted to Kael.