Page 145 of Taken By Shadows

“We should go.” He smiled at me.

I sighed as I saw more people in rust-coloured aprons begin to mill about the housed jungle. Each of them had pots or boxes of tiny flowers.

“What are they doing?” I wondered aloud as we navigated our way back to the entrance. They were busying themselves with arrangements and floral structures. Boughs and wreaths. There wasn’t an idle hand in the building as they brought more and more varieties of flora into the already densely packed garden house.

“Preparation.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “For what?”

He smiled, and I almost forgot what I’d asked. “For the Seeds and Starlight Celebration.” He paused to check my expression, which was clearly expectant. “It celebrates the balance between nature and magic and allows fae to give back to the earth. It’s quite a beautiful sight,” he said, his tone pensive. “Magical offerings are sent out into the world like offered stars. Wherever they land, a piece of magic grows.”

There was an unexpected softness to his words, like they were part of a dream he didn’t want to disturb. Delicate memories hanging by silver threads.

I was still getting used to magic and what it could do. Defence and attack strategies seemed useful and practical. But this sounded beautiful. A balance.

“I’d like to see that,” I said wistfully.

Kaed chuffed a laugh into the humid air. “Sadly, I’m not likely to be invited.”

“Your father?”

“You could say that. But Varris usually oversees this event.”

Another person with a crate of what looked like floral lanterns walked past us.

“We should go before someone sees us and tries to get me arrested again for something.” He sounded almost bemused by the idea as he turned to leave.

I bit my lip to hide a laugh. “They’ll set up a cage with your name on it if you’re not careful.”

He laughed at that. But there was something dark in his sound as he said, “I’ve had worse accommodations.”

And I knew he wasn’t making fun. There were so many parts to Kaed I didn’t know. But I had discovered a part of him I wasn’t sure I would ever be able to relinquish after tonight.

Chapter forty-four

We entered through the front doors of the Alabaster Palace, and no sooner had I dripped rainwater onto the marble floor than Audrie appeared before us both.

“You look different.” Her head tilted to the side like a bird examining something.

I blushed but smothered it when I looked at Kaed. The water had completely washed away any hint of what we had just done together.

He looked fierce again like the prince and not whatever dark creature he’d just been. Maybe I had actually been hit by falling rocks in the ruins tonight, and everything I’d just experienced had been some sort of delusional imagining.

“Where is Gavrin?” he asked, his tone abrupt.

Audrie didn’t answer for a moment, still taking in the sight of me.

“Audrie.” Kaed’s voice landed heavily in the marble foyer.

She slowly pulled her gaze from me to Kaed. And then her eyes bugged as if she’d just noticed her lord and Crown prince standing in front of her.

“Study,” she said as quickly as possible.

Kaed left without another word.

“I have no idea what’s going on, but I will need you to tell me everything.” Her eyes said And I mean everything.

I laughed and took her arm. “First, let’s get me a towel and some tea.” I grabbed a fistful of my hair and wrung it out to shower the floor in droplets for emphasis.