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Reaching deep within me, I grasp onto the bond and follow the pull that will lead me to her. In the blink of an eye, I leap from the opening in my room and soar across the sea as I feel her presence grow stronger, my beast pressing on the walls of my psyche for me to close the distance.
As I near, I can’t help but question why my little demon would be in the Court of Abhain. A million other thoughts race through my mind for what would bring her so far from her bed where she should be sleeping.
My wings beat brutally against the wind, flying faster than ever before. I touch down, skidding to a stop on the outskirts of a village I’ve only been to when hunting the Corrupted. It’s just as run-down and deserted as I remember.
Immediately, her rose and honey scent invades my senses, driving the beast in me to pound against my bones to find her and claim her. Having her near me without our bond snapping into place has been fucking difficult. Every instinct inside of me wants to complete the mating ritual, to be buried deep inside her and have our marks imprinted on our hands.
But I’ve been restraining myself because I just got her back. I will only mate with her when she is ready, and I can tell she’s not there yet. Not completely. She just found her way out of the dark, and I will be patient for however long she needs until she wants me to join her in the light.
I know she doesn’t understand the full extent of what completing a bond entails, and when the time is right, I will tell her. I don’t want it to sway her to choose to complete the bond because we’d be able to speak to each other in our minds. Even though it would settle something in me if I could reach out to her to check in, making sure she is okay.
Like now, for instance. Instead, I’m raging inside to get to her. Even being able to feel her pain shouldn’t happen until the bond is complete. Since this is not the first time, I’m thinking the reason is because she’s so powerful that it’s enhancing our connection. But even without all the extra bits that come with a mate bond, all that matters is her and I.
And that thought stays with me as I cast my shadows around my frame, staying unseen as I make my way down an empty path. Then, a shriek fills the air from the direction the bond is calling me to. My legs pump hard, my bare feet pounding on the ground as I round the corner of a building, only to halt my movements.
Emma, face shrouded in shadows, is on the ground with a young Corrupted in her arms. I can smell the metallic scent of blood before I see it seeping between them. The moment my feet go to move, blinding white light makes me cover my eyes.
It flares and pulses around them and when it starts to fade, I slowly remove my arm from in front of my face. My eyes widen and my jaw gapes because when the light fully dies down, I no longer see a Corrupted, but just…a little girl who is trembling in Emma’s arms.
I stay hidden, watching the girl sit up, slowly looking healthier and more alive by the minute. My little demon can cure the Corrupted, bringing them back to life as if there was never a trace of darkness in them.
I continue to watch, following my mate as she safely takes the girl home, but I don’t miss the subtle shift of her brows or how her eyes linger on the family. My chest aches to go to her, to wrap her up in my arms and never let go.
I know she can sense me near her. When she makes it to the roof, her hooded face shifts to my direction, and I can feel the weight of her eyes on me. Seeing through my shadows as if they don’t exist.
And if I wasn’t sure just a moment ago, the warmth that liquiefies through the bond gives her away. It feels like a sense of comfort with a sprinkle of lust because we are a fated pair that is still unmated. This desire will only intensify.
The way she looks, cloaked in shadows, has me grinding my molars, the sight causing my throat to dry. She’s everything, made from wisps of beautiful chaos that holds a heart of all that is good. But she manages to mask it as she leaps from the roof, with me following a good distance behind.
The rest of the night I watch over her as she finds a handful of Corrupted. Guilt weighs heavily. I stopped being Shade when my entire world was taken from me. But it seems more lives can now be saved, when all I could offer was a quick and sure death to end their misery.
Right now, stalking her is all I can do so I don’t disturb what she’s doing. Deep down, I feel that this is something she needs to do on her own. To heal a small piece of herself.
She looks to the horizon, gauging something before vanishing, and I follow the pull to her once again. This time, it leads me to the sea off the coast of Abhain. Cautiously, I stay high in the sky, blending into the dark as I beat my wings to keep me hovering far enough away above a lone ship.
A group of males and females are on board, keeping their voices low. I catch something said by one of the males who steps up and seems to be the leader of this group.
“How much longer do we have to hold back?” There is a desperation to his harsh voice. But my little demon is unfazed.
She doesn’t answer right away, but tips her head up, looking straight into my mist of shadows. I hold my breath as I watch, needing to understand what’s happening.
Her gaze drops back to the male questioning her. “Not much longer. He believes you all have given up. The coronation was executed perfectly, and he doesn’t suspect a thing. But I will give you the vengeance you seek.” She places her hand over her heart. “You have my word.”
“Then we will remain hidden,” the male says with a firm nod. “And we will be ready.”
“I’ll meet with you as soon as I can,” Emma says before meeting the eyes of each member with a final farewell. Her shadows then swallow her whole.
I remain floating above the rocking ship anchored in the sea, studying those on board and thinking on what I heard. She could have blocked me with her power to not be able to hear the conversation. But Emma wanted me to hear, to not hide whatever this is.
They mentioned the coronation…the execution of it…
My eyes widen, looking closely at the small group on board. The rough clothing, and the weapons hanging on their bodies ready at a moment’s notice. This group is only a handful of them, and it seems to be the head ones who lead something much bigger. Something that would sentence them all to a quick execution if known.
They are the rebellion, and my little demon is working with them. Even though I could see the sliver of fear glinting in their eyes when Emma was before them, they still have respect for her to listen. Respect for their princess they always wished to meet, who is helping them rid Asov of a careless king.
Seems she doesn’t just have plans to take Whiro down. A wicked smirk tips my lips, forcing my wings to beat hard with a loud gust. I brush deep down in our bond, reaching for the thrumming pull that will lead me to her.
Pride swells in my chest as I glide above the sleeping clouds. Once upon a time I thought the Princess of Asov was an ignorant, selfish female who didn’t give a damn about the world and the people who lived in it. But I learned quickly how fucking wrong I was. I judged her by the cover of what I saw, before taking my time to read her. To understand her. The deeper I sink into who she is, the more I truly see her. And she only keeps surprising me. She is so much more than anything I could ever imagine.
