“I’venever slept well.”Thelook she gave me was far too piteous for my liking, soIadded, “Besides,Ihave heard there is a giant spider who roams these halls.Notthe most comforting tale.”
Awicked grin crossed her face. “Wouldyou like to meet him?”
Iwill admit,the spider had been surprisingly affable.Hegave me a cute spin as a greeting and brought me whatToriassured was a mouse wrapped up in his silk.Itseemed awfully large to be a mouse, butIdidn’t question it.Ipet his head asIwould have one of the palace cats, and he purred in a similar but unnerving way.
After,Toriwalked me back to my room.Thetwo soldiers were gone.Shedidn’t warn me to stay or lock the door, butIwas sure there were eyes on me, nonetheless.
Junslept peacefully, butIknewIwasn’t ready for sleep yet.Asmall collection of books lay on a small shelf in the room.Igrabbed one and a small candle.Sittingby the window, a glance outside revealed the flaming blue-green lights so famous in this region in the night sky above.Ihad never seen them before, and evenIhad to admit, they were enchanting.Iwas swept away in their soft, graceful beauty until the smell of ashy rose filled my nose.Itwas paired with something metallic, like smoke or even blood.Itwas a smellIhad become well acquainted with over the past century.
“Hello,ShadowWalker.Ithought you couldn’t enter this city, let alone the palace?”
CommanderLuxosstepped out of the shadows that clung to the corner of the room. “Well, with our belovedDragonKinggone, his warding has weakened.”
Luxos’ long, dark hair was pulled back, and the long white scar over his left eye was accentuated by the pale light of the moon.Hewore the dark leather armorIwas so used to seeing him in.Sweatcoated his brow, andIcould tell it had taken quite a bit of effort to enter the kingdom.
“It’stime to go,Pallas.Ourmaster awaits.”Heextended his hand to me and glanced atJunon the bed.Ididn’t move.
“Thereis no way for him to know you could make it here now.It’snever been possible before.Therewould be no punishment for you not bringing us back.”
Hefrowned. “Don’tmake this difficult.I’vealready risked my life for you.”Atwinkle lit his eye. “Thereward for that had been much sweeter.”
Yes,Luxoshad beenHadeon’sloyal dog for almost three centuries, but how many things had changed in the past few months?Iwas ordered toservethe commander numerous times before, but whenHadeonhad traveled toNiata, it had been the first timeI’dslept with him for myself.
Afterthat first stolen night,Ihad often found myself inLuxos’ embrace.Inhis chambers, the gardens, or even in a vacant hallway.Hisexpression told me he knew exactly whatIwas remembering.Heshot me a smile thatIwas sure had caused the undergarments of many a courtier to disappear in a hurry, butIjust scowled at him.
Hefrowned. “Don’ttell me you prefer the company of that spoiled brat?”
Iassumed he was referring to the princess.Shehad escaped his clutches twice, andIrealizedIwas impressed.Icouldn’t think of another soul who had escaped fromLuxosand his shadow troops.Theman had killed two new recruits after his botched attempt to draw outTori’spower, testing them too hard after losing his best men.PerhapsIhadn’t given her enough credit.
Ilooked into his dark eyes but said nothing.
“Pallas…” he growled at me, taking a step forward.
“Luxos?”Ihit him with my bedroom eyes and batted my lashes.Hefroze, and the slightest color rose on his cheeks.Buthe shook his head and regained his composure.
“Iwould hate to have to force you.”
“Haven’tyou already done just that?”Itwas foolish to provoke him, but maybe being around the princess had emboldenedme.Angerflashed through his eyes.Hestalked forward to grab me.Iflung myself out of the chair, tumbling to the floor.Aslong as he couldn’t touch me, he couldn’t take me.Hescrambled after me, andIflung my book at his face.Ithit him square in the nose with a thud.Hesnarled and lunged, his hand mere inches away.Weboth froze as a groan came from the bed.
“Pallas, what…?”Jun’seyes locked on my assailant, and his face went white.Isaw the panic creep into his eyes as he scrambled to cover himself with the linens. “STOP!”Theword shook the room, andIfelt my entire body seize up.Icouldn’t have moved if my life depended on it.Luxos’ was also caught inJun’sspell.Hegroaned, trying to extend his arm just a bit further to grab me.
Thenthe door slammed open, andToricame barging in.Hereyes immediately locked onLuxos, and they filled with hatred. “Lookwho’s caught this time,Commander.”Sheunsheathed her sword and raised it above her head.Sheran at him, and his eyes bulged.Justas her sword fell, that ashy rose smell flared, and the light in the room warped asLuxoswrapped himself in shadows.Tori’ssword cut through the darkness but hit nothing as the man disappeared.
Shehad swung so hard that the sword embedded in the wooden floor.Shewrenched it out and spun around, searching the corners for the shadow walker.
“He’sgone.”Ofthat,Ihad no doubt.Torigave me a look full of distrust.
“Yousure about that, beautiful?”CommanderAvlyn’svoice came from the doorway.Theywere giving me the same distrustful look the princess was.
“Luxosnever stays for a fight he can’t win,”Iremarked.Theyboth stared at me some more until evenIwas unsettled.Butthen, some soft sobs came from the bed, andToriimmediatelyturned toJun.
“Hewas here… he was here… how did he get here?”
Torisat with him, one hand cautiously patting his back as she made soothing noises.Imoved to join her, butAvlynblocked my path.
“Iwas wondering the same thing,” they said, staring directly into my eyes.
“Idon’t know.”Iwasn’t sure whyIlied, butAvlynsaw right through it.
