Page 16 of Captive of Secrets and Storms

Darius kicks his heels into his horse and gallops forward, taking position beside Draven. The two begin to talk in quiet tones.

I study the brothers. Draven’s bulkier form is much more noticeable when riding beside his smooth-talking brother.

I assess Jaxon from the corner of my eye. “Are you related to anyone?”

His eyes glint. “It may be hard to believe, but this godlike face and body didn’t just appear out of thin air. I’ve got a mother to thank for it.”

My lips twitch. “I meant, are you related to anyone here?”

“No, I’m a lord’s orphaned bastard.”

Bastard?

The word stings in its honesty, but he says it without shame.

Does Fae society not care about such things?

I tilt my head to the side, studying the easygoing Fae. “How did you end up in the prince’s inner circle?”

Draven growls and whips his head back to me. “Do not mention the prince.”

I flinch and follow his gaze to a group of vibrantly dressed men and women walking, arm in arm, on the other side of the path. They eye our group with interest but no suspicion.

Not yet.

I bite my cheek and wait for us to pass before prompting, “Well?”

“As a boy, I was sent to the tenements in the capital.” Jaxon’s voice softens. “There, I showed promise with shadow magic and was ordered to train with the army. That’s where Rian found me.”

I shouldn’t ask anything about Rian.

I shouldn’t care to learn more.

But curiosity digs its claws in. “He found you?”

He nods.

“What happened?”

Jaxon’s lips twitch. “I struck him.”

I choke. “You what?”

“I struck him,” he repeats. “My squad’s captain was a mean brute, but he saw potential in me. When his trainers brought him to the army’s training yard to spar with us, my captain sent me over to show them what I could do.”

“How old were you?”

“Twelve.”

I balk. “And him?”

“Ten.” He smirks. “And before you feel sorry for him, you should know he was wielding shadows by the age of five with the expertise of males two centuries old. And at ten, he could defeat grown males who don’t wield shadows in a fight.”

My forehead furrows. “I don’t understand. Aren’t all Shadow Fae able to wield shadows?”

“Mother save me,” Draven snaps. “Will you two shut the hells up?”

I jolt at his tone, but he’s right.