Chapter 42 #2
Kaeleron noticed it of course, coming to stand closer to me, his own power embracing me and wrapping me in an invisible shield that made it easier to breathe.
“From a very generous king.” Elduin’s silver gaze slid to Kaeleron. “Bestowing such a rare and priceless treasure upon a mere member of the peasant class of his court.”
I bit my tongue, holding back my retort as fire flashed through my veins, setting my blood alight. I was neither a peasant nor a mutt. I schooled my features, not letting him see my anger, sure he was trying to goad me into acting out.
Kaeleron moved behind me and his hands came down on my shoulders, an obvious claiming of me, a show of possession that had Elduin frowning at both of us and the daughter looking almost… pleased. It was the only word that felt right for the soft expression on her face as she looked at us.
“Saphira ranks among the highest members of my court.”
Elduin looked between us. “I am surprised to hear that, but then I have heard you are prone to collecting strays.”
Kaeleron’s fingers tightened on my shoulders, and I felt the press of his claws against my bare flesh as they came out. “I do not collect strays. I collect allies who help strengthen my court. But I thought perhaps you knew that.”
Before the high king could respond, Kaeleron angled his body to my left, his gaze searing the side of my face and his power rising around me, calling to that darker side of myself I had discovered here in Lucia.
I stared at the high king. Bold. Unafraid. Looking him right in the eye as Kaeleron spoke.
“She is the tool of my vengeance—the weapon of my wrath—born to carve it out for me in spilled blood and cleaved bone. None who have reason to be my enemy will survive her hunt.”
I felt those words as they spoke to my soul, as they awoke that wicked part of me that matched his darkness. There was power in them. A thrill that intoxicated as they washed over me.
The high king seemed to pale before he gestured to the female beside him, who dutifully stepped forwards.
“This is Vaeleryn. My daughter. She and Kaeleron have known each other for many centuries, and she often enjoys sharing details of their conversations with me. Strange that she has not once spoken of a wolven among his court.”
Vaeleryn glanced between me and her father, a flash of apology in her eyes whenever they met mine. She didn’t have to apologise for her father or worry that I might grow jealous as he had intended.
“I’m a new addition. I’ve only been a member of the court for a few months.” I kept my back straight, savouring how Kaeleron’s thumbs glided up and down my back. “But what Kaeleron has told you is true. His seer has seen me in visions, carving out his vengeance.”
Elduin looked pleased to hear that rather than shocked as I had wanted.
His daughter took another step towards us, her silver-violet eyes on Kaeleron who tensed behind me as she said, “You seem happy, and I am so pleased you have found someone. Is she your—”
“Vaeleryn,” Elduin snapped, cutting his daughter off.
She shrank back, bowing her head and folding her hands in front of her trim waist. “I am sorry, father.”
How many times had my own father made me act like that?
I wanted to tell her to stand up to him, but held my tongue, deeply aware that if I did it would probably be the last thing I said.
Claws gently raked over my mind.
I looked for Kalyn, only I couldn’t see him anywhere.
Cold snaked down my spine.
My gaze darted to lock with Elduin’s.
“Looking for something?” I hissed as I mentally shoved him out of my mind, finding it surprisingly easy. Because of whatever Oberon had done?
Kaeleron growled behind me.
“Temper,” Elduin chided. “Unless you wish to lose one of those allies who strengthen your court and your head shortly after. Remember your place, Shadow King.”
I placed my hands over Kaeleron’s on my shoulders. “Let it go. Oberon made my mind Fort Knox. He got nothing.”
Elduin casually leaned back in his throne, but that calm and unaffected air he put on didn’t mask how desperately he wanted to peer into my head now that I had mentioned Oberon.
“I thought perhaps I recognised his scent on you,” he drawled, a wicked light in his eyes. “Are you sure this wolven is loyal to your court, Shadow King?”
“I smell like Oberon because we danced. On your terrace. All without you ever knowing he was here.” I was treading on thin ice, could hear it cracking under my weight, but I was damned if I was going to let this male insinuate I had gotten Oberon’s scent on me in the same way that Kaeleron’s was stamped on me. “It seemed to amuse him greatly.”
“Saphira,” Kaeleron warned.
“Which would be the business that demanded your attention and pulled you away from my daughter.” Elduin’s jaw flexed as he looked from me to Kaeleron, who went very still behind me as his high king studied him.
“When she had been so enjoying her first time, you abandoned her to what… slake your lusts with this wolven whore?”
I clutched Kaeleron’s hands as my heart shot into my throat, hoping to pin him in place and stop him from launching at the high king.
Only he just stood there at my back, his hands clamped down on my shoulders, his shadows embracing me as that terrible stillness came over him again, echoing the way he had been in the garden when I had callously tossed that word at him.
His tone was as cold as ice and dark as midnight as he drawled, “Saphira is not a whore.”
“She warms the bed of her king. What other word is there for her?” Elduin smiled, flashing straight white teeth. “I would caution you to choose one wisely. Alliances have been lost and wars have begun over a single word used in error.”
“Kael,” I whispered and stroked his hands, down the lengths of his fingers to those inch-long claws that pressed into my skin, trying to calm him before he did something he would regret. “It’s fine. Let’s just go.”
He still didn’t move.
Elduin’s sharp gaze fell to me and narrowed.
I prised Kaeleron’s hands off me and turned to face him, and gods, he had never looked so dark as he stared at the high king, his eyes blood-red and filled with malice, with leashed fury that looked as if it might boil over at any moment.
“Take me home,” I whispered, the only thing I could think to say to get his attention. “I want to go home.”
“Yes.” Elduin’s tone was darkly amused, sword sharp. “Take your little wolven whore home.”
I pushed Kaeleron backwards, down the steps of the dais as he slowly bared sharp fangs, his shadows swirling around me to wrap me in black ribbons flecked with starlight.
And as we disappeared into the darkness of a teleport, Elduin’s words rang in the infinite void.
“And if you think of a word you would prefer to use for her, do let me know and I shall ready my army for war.”