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“Gods, you’re a shadow.” She pressed a kiss to my neck and settled against my side.
“I’ve been convincing the king to take your room in the nest,” Niklas said, sneering at me.
“No.”
Niklas laughed as if I’d told the heartiest of jokes. “I knew he’d say that. Not even a drop of hesitation for your title, King.”
“I’m not at all surprised. If I recall, the Nightrender has no love of royal titles.” Elise tilted her head, daring me to react.
“His wife is the queen,” Valen said. “Kase is highly ranked whether he wants it or not.”
I gave Niklas a smug look. “Hear that, Nik? You need to do what I say.”
“Ah, but I am a thief. What makes you think I will take orders from authority now?”
“Where will you stay if not in the nest?” Malin asked Elise.
The way the queen beamed at her, hells, they were halfway to being friends.
“Oh, we are quite accustomed to sleeping in shanties and war tents.”
“We’ll be fine with our army,” Valen insisted. “We’re unloading the final ship now, then I plan to sleep, and kill anyone who tries to wake me too soon. The walls should hold. But we will need to know your plan to win this throne.”
“And who guardsyourthrone while you are here?” Malin asked.
“My parents, the former king and queen. The North is in good hands.” Valen struck my shoulder with the back of his hand. “You carved the earth with me and appeared out of . . . nowhere.”
“The earth does not bow to me,” I admitted. “I’ll leave that for you, but if you keep stirring fear about breaking the earth, then I’m able to break it too.”
“I’m glad for it. I would not have made it without you. You have a habit of saving my ass.” Valen rested a hand on one of his battle axes. “But how did you stepthroughshadows?”
“Yes,” Niklas said. “I’d like to know as well.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Mesmer was strong. I had the desire to move swiftly, to reach Valen, and the darkness came. I can’t explain it, but it was as if everyone's fear whispered in my head. I knew I could walk into the shadows without being harmed. It was freezing, like I was trapped in a frost storm without any light. Only lasted a moment, then it spat me out right where I wanted to be.”
Niklas’s eyes were glazed, as if he’d drunk too much brän. “Amazing. Shadow walking. Who knew it was truly possible.”
“You’ve heard of such a thing?” Malin asked.
“Oh, there are many records of walking through . . . anything. You walked through memories, Mal. But I’ve heard of sun walkers, dream walkers, night walkers. I suppose walking through fear would not be any different.”
“I’ve never done it before,” I said, but glanced at Malin. “Only since you.”
“Well, before we take another damn breath, if Kase has new tricks, then we certainly need to talk about Mal’s new mesmer,” Raum said. Almost petulant, as if we’d ignored a drastic battle strategy on purpose.
A furrow gathered between my eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“She can see into the damn future!” Raum’s words erupted like they’d been held for too long.
“What?”
“It was impressive,” Halvar said, winking at Malin. “I’m curious about this fury of yours, Queen. Shadows like your husband, even the black eyes, but you did not snap necks as I’ve seen him do. How did you know where to strike before the target even arrived?”
“As I said,” Raum grinned, “the bleeding future.”
“You can see what’s to come?” Valen asked slowly.
“No.” Malin’s hair was still stuck to her forehead from the sweat of the battle, but her mossy eyes were brilliant against the darkness. Like a fire had ignited behind them. She nudged Raum’s ribs with her elbow. “I did not see what was to come; I did what I always do. I took memories.”
