Page 114 of Taken By Shadows

His eyes never left Eryk’s even as I stepped from Eryk’s side to Kaed’s.

The prince I’d chose to free was the embodiment of the storm I knew was coming.

Denora and Gavrin walked close by the entire way back to the Alabaster Palace. At one point, I thought Gavrin might offer to take some of Kaed’s weight, but he valued his life so thought better of it.

I walked in silence beside Kaed.

His entire aura had shifted so that he felt cloaked in shadow. It wrapped around him. Not like a blanket. Not like a comfort, but the hide of a battering ram. I couldn’t tell if he was angry. Relieved. In pain.

There was only a sense of darkness.

His jaw was set in a hard, chiselled line.

I chewed on my lip.

He noticed the gesture. His eyes, still alive with something, but now blue embers, not roaring flames.

Had I done the right thing? He didn’t seem pleased to be free, at least not at Eryk’s hand. And this was all my doing.

Besides the obvious show of power of his throwing me over his shoulder to bring me back, I had begun to feel less and less like I had been forced to be here these past few days. Something had shifted since releasing him from the Cage the first time.

But right now … now I felt like what a subject under the ire of a ruler must feel like. I wasn’t breaking any rules, but I had stepped over a line.

But no part of me would cower at his feet, beg for royal forgiveness. He wasn’t my prince.

I had just helped him for the second time.

Part of me tried to rationalise that I had acted in self-interest. The more I helped him, the more he would help me. But I knew, deep down, somewhere I didn’t even recognise, that I couldn’t see him suffer like that. Not for me. Not for anyone.

If I’d been stronger or more cunning, I’d have left him there. I’d have left today before he even found me. Even if it meant I wouldn’t have answers about my family. At least I wouldn’t have embroiled myself further in whatever this mess with Kaed and his family, the Crown, was.

I’d already be far away; the walls of Viverna and all the demons within faded like memories in sand. Gone with the next tide.

But I had stayed, and now I was matching his stride. It was slower than I’d seen him move, and I had no doubt that the manacles, the Cage and the restraint he’d had on himself had taken a toll.

I looked back at Denora, who was watching Kaed like she expected him to collapse. To me, he looked like he wanted to break something with his bare hands. Gavrin wore an uneasy mask again, like he didn’t know what to do if he couldn’t punch something. And I knew he was picturing Eryk. Or maybe Councillor Varris.

“Leave us,” Kaed said, without turning to Denora or Gavrin as he opened the door to the estate house.

I looked back at Denora again. I thought she might insist on coming inside, but then she nodded at Kaed.

Gavrin gave a tight grimace as he looked at Kaed.

“Go, Gav.” Kaed’s words were heavy with exhaustion, but they held a tendril of command still.

Denora and Gavrin left with a backwards glance.

I didn’t want them to leave either, for my sake.

His expression was unreadable, but my body felt like it was preparing to run. But instead, I stepped inside.

Into the foyer. Into blackness.

And then Kaed collapsed.

Chapter thirty-five

Icaught his weight enough so that he steadied himself before crashing to the marble flooring.