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The hairs on my arms rise as the air charges with increasing power. As if pulled from every dark corner of The Keep, shadows dance across the floor. They spiral and thicken until the towering, cloaked figure of Asher steps from the black abyss. The king has arrived.
We enter the throne room to see Theo, who is now conscious and kneeling at the steps of the dais, ready to meet King Asher. The lanterns emit an eerie glow around the space. The smell of iron wafts through the room, causing me to swallow hard. I swear I feel Theo’s eyes tracking me.
Asher stands at the center of the dais. Theo’s head lifts, eyes filling with fear as he realizes where he is. He fights against Marcus and Hiram’s hold. From a kneeling position, he throws them off their balance before they regain control. Terror seems to sink in as they settle him back before the shadow king. His jaw clenches.
My shadows claw at my skin, begging to be released. They hum in his presence, seeming to be drawn to him.
I study Theo for a long moment. The stony, reserved face of a well-trained guard stares directly ahead at the wall of shadows. A simple, emotionless mask of indifference overtakes his expression.
“Just kill me already like you did my men so I can join them in the Underrealm,” Theo yells.
Even though his face is resigned, the fury in his voice is palpable. I want to be relieved that he seems relatively unharmed, but his anger stirs mine. His sheer audacity to blame us for his men’s deaths is laughable.
“Your king killed your men, not us. He’s the one who sent you here uninvited, knowing death would take you all,” Asher’s voice hisses.
Theo lunges toward the dais in response, and Marcus and Hiram restrain him. Nyx steps in to hold Theo down by his shoulders to prevent him from trying to move again.
“You could have stopped all of this if you just gave back that damned amulet,” Theo’s shout echoes off the stone while he tries to shake off all three men holding him in place.
Asher brings his veiled face almost even with Theo's.
“As I’ve already told King Leopold, we didn’t take his amulet, nor do we know who has it,” Asher says before standing back to his full, towering height.
Theo’s eyes dart back and forth as if trying to chase the words.
“What? He didn’t tell you? Not surprised. He’s a deceitful, lying king,” Asher snips in response to Theo’s reaction.
Rage fills Theo’s face and he spits. It lands on the dais, just shy of Asher.
“You’re the liar and murderer, not my king,” Theo growls, baring his teeth at the shadow king.
Marcus draws a hand back to smack Theo across the face for his disrespect. Theo closes his eyes and pulls his lip inward, preparing for the impact. Shadows snatch Marcus’ arm inches before it reaches Theo’s face.
“Did I give you an order to harm my prisoner?” Asher’s voice is cold and menacing.
Marcus tries to wrench his arm free, but the shadows hold on tight, not wanting to release him.
“If you lay a hand on him, I’ll drive shadows so far down your throat they will come out of your ass. He’s my prisoner, and I decide his punishment. Not you or any other guard. If someone dares to look at him the wrong way, they will meet an early grave.” Asher says harshly.
The shadows release Marcus, who, having been put in his place, resumes his hold on Theo.
“You will allow my physician and healer to assess any wounds,” Asher addresses Theo again, ignoring the spit.
The physician and healer step forward, and Theo flinches at their approach. A tendril of shadow lifts and the two stop.
Theo twitches with pent-up anger.
“Rise.” Asher commands.
Hiram, Marcus, and Nyx lift Theo. Only Nyx matches Theo’s height as he stands.
Theo’s eyes remain locked on the stone floor. I’m not sure if it’s out of fear or defiance. The tendril of shadow reaches out and grabs his chin, forcing him to look at the void of darkness before him. My heart skips a beat. My instincts flare. I want to save him.
“Do you have something else to say, guard?” Asher demands.
He’s the Captain.
Theo’s nostrils flare as his lips twist into a snarl. “It’s Captain.” He says through clenched teeth, echoing my thought.
