Page 60 of How to Claim A Shadow King

My brothers pause, the castle trembling with desire to obey my command but unable to act against my brothers. The shadows around the bed rise like jagged blades, sharp and lethal, pointed directly at their chests.

"Malakai, you are in a foul mood this morning," Valen says, raising his large, calloused hands in mock surrender, his face flickering to the death skull and back with dizzying speed. "Hash is preparing a feast downstairs. Bring your witch. We want to meet her."

"Truthfully, Malakai, we are starving," Cern chimes in, finally ripping his antlers free with a loud groan. "Hurry up with whatever it is your tormenting your witch with under those sheets."

Aveline gasps in outrage where I’ve hidden her… under my sheets.

With a pair of synchronized salutes, the two assholes turn on their heels and make their way down the hallway.

They laugh loud enough to wake the dead.

I squeeze my eyes shut and force my magic back down before I accidentally level my own keep.

The castle would be extremely put out if I did that again.

When I finally look down, Aveline is staring up at me from beneath the quilt, her wide, blue eyes completely awake, her jaw slightly slack.

"Are those..." She swallows, her voice thick with sleep. "...your brothers?"

I let out a long, exhausted sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Regrettably. Yes."

23

AVELINE

I’ve spent my entire life training for high-stakes court drama.

My mother practically engraved the rules of etiquette into my bones. ‘Always maintain a serene smile.’ ‘Never slouch.’ ‘Treat all nobles with the utmost grace and hospitality, no matter how taxing they may be. They could be future family.’

Future family, indeed.

I repeat these mantras to myself like a prayer as I walk into the dining room.

Future family.

I never envisioned my future family would have antlers that get stuck on my home’s doorways, but here I am!

Still, I’m determined to play nice. These foolish… well, Elder Gods, are Malakai’s brothers, which means they are my new family.

I try not to think too hard about the fact that means I’m very much considering marrying Malakai.

I raise my chin.

If I am to be the Queen of Shadow Keep, I must show them that a Duchess of Stormspire does not scare easily.

Then I actually see them at the breakfast table.

The dining hall looks as though it’s been ransacked by oversized toddlers.

My mouth opens, then closes, then opens again.

Cern, the antlered forest god, lounges sideways in a velvet chair that is actively groaning under his massive weight. Mud and crushed pine needles are all over the once-pristine stone floor.

Valen, the death god, sits across from him, leaning so far back on two legs of his chair that it’s a miracle he hasn't cracked his skull open. His face is currently handsome and human, but every time he takes a bite, his jaw flickers into gleaming white bone.

"Ah! The blushing bride-to-be arrives!" Valen booms, his chair slamming down onto all four legs as I enter.

In the corner, Hash arches his eyebrows, as if daring me to take on Valen all on my own. Maybe I will.