Page 64 of How to Claim A Shadow King

"We need her to learn quickly," Hash interrupts, his cheerful demeanor completely vanishing as he sets his silver fork onto the plate.

The air grows heavier, the metallic tang of magic cutting through the scent of breakfast. "The borders worsen. The Unseelie Queen is no longer merely testing the barriers; she’s pushing wild magic through the fissures. The Seelie King is no better, and I fear they’re working together.”

Cern straightens, no longer leaning against the wall. “And the Seelie Queen?”

Hash shakes his head, feeding the dog more ham from his fork. The great yellow tail thumps against the floor. “There’s no sign of her, not since… Wren, the metalsmith enchantress, crafted her a protective piece. I think she must have gone into hiding.”

“What else?” I ask.

“The Fae creature that chased Aveline through the woods was a scout.” Hash doesn’t look up at me, just keeps petting the yellow dog. “The Unseelie search for the weakest anchor point in the Wild Oak Woods, and right now, that is Shadow Keep, the grove, and the ancient graveyard. Your three domains. The Fae know if they take out the chance of your bonds, then they will have this realm to themselves."

“Foul news indeed,” Valen says with a dramatic sigh.

Boner barks, and Hash feeds him another piece.

"The wards are reinforced," I counter sharply. “Aveline and I repaired one such fissure already.”

"Reinforced, yes. Permanent? No," Hash steeples his long fingers. "A threshold requires balance. Until Aveline fully claims her power and accepts her place as the witch queen by your side, the core of the castle's magic remains split. As does your wild place, Cern, and your graveyard threshold, Valen.”

“If the Unseelie Queen and Seelie King unleash the full weight of their domains, nothing can stop them. You must seal the bonds with your other halves, with the realm-bound witches who will balance your power." Hash’s full attention is on me.

The castle seems to understand the gravity of Hash's words. The chandelier overhead sways slightly, the crystal prisms chime echoing off the vaulted ceilings.

Cern stretches, his huge chest expanding. His antlers miss the stone door frame by a mere inches. "Well. This overgrown excuse for venison better hoof it to the village… Though I suppose I should repair the shattered doorway upstairs before wooing my own bride." He looks over at me, a roguish but supportive glint in his emerald eyes. "Go find your woman, Malakai. We will handle finding ours."

I offer my brothers a curt nod of gratitude.

The house opens the heavy oak dining doors before I can even reach for the handle, a cool breeze from the courtyard nudging at my back, urging me to follow the trail of warmth that always lingers in my mind wherever Aveline walks.

I’ll find my woman, and I’m grateful it’s her.

I’ll find her in every lifetime.

25

AVELINE

The crisp air is a welcome shock to my system, nipping at my cheeks. It cools the lingering heat of my morning temper.

Sandwich walks beside me, his giant frame and horse smell comforting.

His heavy hooves crunch over fallen leaves and frost-bitten earth. Sandwich’s back hoof’s healed nicely. Watching him plod along is even more comforting than I suspected it would be.

“I’m glad you have a soft place to land now, old boy,” I tell him. He nods his great golden head as he stretches his neck to crop at the final patches of clover hiding near the stone wall.

This part of the castle grounds is breathtaking.

The outer courtyard bleeds into a forgotten terrace where the very last bloom of the winter roses clings stubbornly to the iron trellises. They are a pale, fragile white, dusted with a fine layer of morning frost, defying the coming winter just as I’ve been trying to defy my own fate.

I run a hand down Sandwich’s thick neck, but my thoughts are miles away.

They’ve drifted right back to Malakai.

To my nightmare…. And then to the woods.

To the terrifying, exhilarating kiss against the oak tree.

My lips tingle at the memory, a spark flaring in my chest from just thinking about the hunger in his touch. And then there was this morning—waking up completely entangled in him, feeling safe.