Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 156210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
The sick imagery of Anatole forcing Luke into his bed erupts in my mind against my will and it makes me want to let shadows engulf me again and rip him apart.
“Elodie had no idea what Vinia was planning,” he says, because of course he’ll be sticking to that story.
“Nobody believes that,” I roar, shoving him away, because his sheer presence is agitating. I wish I could banish him forever. “And I don’t want you creeping around him! He’s mine!”
Anatole scoffs but doesn’t even try to fight me, stepping away instead. “He was the one to join our hunting party! Are you blaming me for trying to get to know my future Lord’s promised? Don’t keep him on a leash. It’s unsightly.”
“It’s none of your business what I do with him! If you’re so desperate to know him, you’ll get to do that once he and I are married. If I see you hovering around him one. More. Time. I will forget we’re related!”
“This is not behavior I would expect from someone of your station,” he says with a sneer. I bet he could have put ointment on his bruised face but has refrained from it just to show everyone what I did. And I’m not sorry in the slightest.
“Go on, tell others what a rude fuck I am. You think they’ll strip me of my title? Doubt my claim to it? What they want is safety, not my vibrant personality,” I say sharply and poke at his chest. He doesn’t back away, but sweat shines on his temples and above his lip. He is nervous.
Well, of course he is. I’m near certain he was the one to order the hit, because who else could have done it? I cannot be sure, though, not with all three of the assassins dead, so I push down my anger and sigh. “Look, I almost died, Tristan is gravely injured, and if that bolt hit me, not him, our land would have no protection from Heartbreak, so excuse me for losing my patience, cousin!”
Anatole is losing his composure too, because he actually pokes me back, like an angry child. He’s nowhere near as small as his brother, but unlike me, he’s on the slender side. I could crush him if I wanted to, and he knows it.
“If you cared so much about the Realm, you would have let us find Dark Companions instead of forcing us to wait around for years. Instead, you’re making us stick to old rules made centuries ago!”
I ball my hands into fists and step so close our foreheads almost touch. “The rules are there for a reason. Or do you want another Night of the Bloodknife, cousin?”
His defiance falters, and he looks away, as if bringing up the coup against the first Lord Nightweed makes him uncomfortable.
Anatole takes a deep breath and pulls away with his arms crossed. “I await your marriage with bated breath. I am certain it will be a charming affair, and your wedding night, the first time you ever lay your hands on your beloved. I’m sure you cannot wait.” Bastard has the audacity to roll his eyes.
I want to punch him in Luke’s name, but why give him more bruises to whine about when Tristan remains on the edge of death and my promised is out there all alone with the damn Goldweeds?
“You have no idea,” I tell him and rush right past him, because I will not ask him for a ride.
At least he keeps any snide comments he might have to himself, and I walk off feeling his eyes on my back. I can only hope that as soon as Luke is my Dark Companion, they will stop their petty bullshit and admit defeat.
Chapter 36
Luke
The attempt on Kyran’s life a week ago was a jarring reminder that, for all its beauty, the Nightmare Realm is no fairytale. Being the heir apparent’s promised places a target on my back as well as his, since getting rid of me would mean Kyran cannot formally ascend the throne. I can imagine Baroness Olivia Goldweed and her husband would be perfectly happy to take their chances against Heartbreak without Dark Companions of their own, if that means any of their children get closer to wearing a crown.
I’m so grateful that Kyran, my dark prince with eyes like smoke and arms I don’t want to ever leave, offered me the gift of shadowcraft so I can be that little bit safer.
It was a shock to everyone, I can see it in their eyes, but my man chose to give up on more power to uplift me. To fulfill my dreams and make us a bit more equal. I’m so proud that just moments after receiving the dark gift I was able to use it for good and help keep Tristan alive.