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)
Elodie puts down the fan and makes the saddest little face as she picks up another sandwich bite. “It’s where the Companion’s body sinks to when his shadow is being used, but since Lord Nightweed has died while his Companion was in the shadowild, it’s hard to say whether there’s a chance to bring him back. Though to be honest, if he’s lucky, he is dead. Imagine being stuck in an endless void of shadow forever, unable to get out, yet unable to die…” She shudders theatrically, but I’m not laughing.
I might have lost my appetite.
“Elodie!” Kyranis bangs his hands on the table, making the cutlery and plates roar, then walks off to look out at the sea. “This is unnecessary. I am twice the shadow wielder my father was. I shall not put Luke in danger.”
He might not want to, but he could still do so accidentally. I’m guessing that’s why he dotes on me so much. To lower my defenses.
Elodie gives me a remorseful glance as if she’s sorry for me, which doesn’t help my confidence in my position at this court of madness.
She waves her hand with a sigh. “Have it your way. No courting, a quick wedding with barely any time to invite guests, and an average full moon, when you could wait as little as one month for a blood moon. It’s unreasonable, if you ask me, but I will work with what I’m given. Here, Luke. Please write down a few things you like so that I can make sure they’re incorporated in the celebrations tomorrow.”
She passes me a piece of textured paper and a pencil embedded in a long silver handle.
“We already waited too lon—” Kyranis starts when the floor and walls start trembling. Sweat dampens my back as one of the bottles falls over, spilling red liquid onto the floor, and Kyranis lets out a strange word, which I know from context is a curse. “We cannot risk it at this point.”
Elodie meets my gaze, appearing almost bored with the earthquake while I hold onto the armchair for dear life. “Have it your way. Luke, if you please,” she says and taps the piece of paper with an elongated nail.
I swallow and glance at Kyranis, who stares at the sea with a pensive expression. His profile is breathtaking, but I can’t be this weak. With the wedding planned for tomorrow, I have to take any chance I can. Kyranis is holding back information for a reason, and I don’t want to wait around to find out what his real agenda is.
And I’m sure as hell not promising to love and obey or whatever else, a man I’ve just met. Even if that man is an elf.
I take one more glance at Elodie’s sweet face. She might be a bit all over the place, but I can only hope that as a woman, she will understand my peril.
‘PLEASE. Help me’, I write down and hand the note over while Kyranis is watching the waves. The paper whirrs as she folds it, giving me a conspiratorial glance, but Kyranis is back at the table, his long arm hanging over my shoulder as he wordlessly demands the message I’ve written.
“I should participate in this too.”
My heart sinks in terror. When he threatened me about the tattoo on his chest, he sounded like he meant it. That he’d kill me. What would he do if he found out I’m trying to use his family members against him?
Elodie rolls her eyes and passes him a fresh sheet of paper. “Fine, feel free to write down any preferences, but I’ve known you long enough. I have a good understanding of what you like.”
Silence settles over us as he doesn’t respond, ignoring the empty paper. “Don’t play games, Elodie.”
She scoffs at her cousin. “Must you know everything? Is your future companion not allowed requests to surprise you tomorrow?”
I clear my throat, grateful for that excuse. “I’d rather keep it secret. It’s a… human thing.” I wish my voice wasn’t a squeak, but alas, it can’t be helped.
I stop breathing when a dark shape crawls from under the tabletop and moves toward Elodie, bubbling up the same way my shadow had moments before I was taken. She freezes, blinks, and then throws the folded piece of paper toward Kyranis.
“I should go. I can see you’re keen for some alone time,” she says, rising from her chair, and while her voice remains cheerful, there’s tension in her movements, which betrays that whatever Kyranis threatened her with has shaken her.
Elodie moves away with so much fervor she pulls on a cup while picking up her fan, but she doesn’t even turn around to look at it when it falls.
Reiner makes an acrobatic movement to save the cup, and while he succeeds, he does end up on his knees.