Awakened By The Shadow King (Captive 0f Shadows Book 3)

by Bailey Dark

  He nods solemnly, but he doesn’t argue. “So, is that what was on your mind?”

  I think about killing him more often than I think about returning to my family or being his wife, and that terrifies me. I fear I’m becoming the monster Delphine and Rose accused him of being. If only my family could see that I’m the one who plots in the darkness, that I’m the horned creature with a hideous grin and a long tail. Well, not literally, but that’s how I feel. I avoid my reflection in the mirrors of the castle. The only time I look at myself is in the waters of the garden.

  “Yes,” I lie. “That’s what’s on my mind.”

  Kane’s hand reaches between us and he tangles his fingers with mine. His thumb brushes the sensitive skin on the inside of my wrist and I bite back a whimper. Just that simple touch has the power to bring me to my knees. Memories of our dream plays in my mind and I smile to myself. I remember the way his eyes darkened and his nostrils flared when he pinned my arms above my head and I didn’t fight him. But those moments, the times when he shows me affection, are far and few. I wiggle my hand free.

  I hurry in the direction that Willem went in, following the boot prints in the mud. He crouches beside the horses. His voice is low, barely a whisper, as he mumbles to himself. “Eight hours in the rolling hills and two days in the Blood Forest. We’ve barely made it towards the Yolnheim and the hard part hasn’t even started yet....”

  I stop before he can see me, watching him curiously. I look back and forth through the branches of the shrubbery, but he is the only one here. I have never known him to talk to himself, but there he is, speaking as if he is recording a message. His mouth continues to move and yet no sound comes out. It’s as though he’s listening to a voice only he can hear. I creep closer, but don’t interrupt as he begins to talk once more. “We’re right on the edge of Yolnheim, then we travel through Zculth to save time...after that-”

  “What are you doing?” The sound of Kane’s voice in my ear causes me to shout.

  His ability to travel through the shadows must allow him to sneak up on unsuspecting targets. My heart thunders in my chest, banging against my ribs so hard that it feels like it’s trying to break free. Willem snaps out of whatever daze he was in and I emerge from the darkness with Kane on my heels. I watch Willem carefully, but he behaves as if nothing unusual happened. Kane is still unaware that he sleeps in the midst of two venomous snakes. Even more so, he doesn’t realize that one snake masquerades as his best friend while the other his doting lover. With every bat of my eyelashes I will draw him closer until the life that forfeits is not my own.

  Chapter 6

  Kane

  Blood-red leaves flutter to the ground as the wind blows strong across the forest bed. I can’t remember the last time I’ve ridden through the beautiful, yet treacherous landscape of the underworld. Briar’s cowl is low, casting her face in shadow, but I feel her eyes watching my every move. She is cautious where she only felt fear before. The fear is still there, but it’s no longer a cloying, syrupy scent that follows her. My timid mate still blushes when my eyes linger for far too long and I have seen her needs in the trenches of her dreams.

  She had been expecting me when I appeared on those sands. I wonder how long she’s dreamt of me since she first arrived in the underworld. My horse stops suddenly. I probe the forest with my power, feeling the shadows of the forest cower as my darkness eclipses even the blackest of matter. My ears ring as I hear the sound of insects clicking. The guardians of the Blood Forest are watching us. Even I have rarely seen the creatures that protect the lost souls here. Their stench is a sour musk that makes my eyes burn with unshed tears.

  I raise my hand to stop Briar and Willem from proceeding. They slide questioning glances in my direction. Though they are unable to sense the beings that stalk our movements through the Blood Forest, nothing can escape Death’s notice. I am the thing they fear most and yet they cluster as though they entertain the notion of attacking us. My eyes darken and I feel the inky blackness fill them. I run my tongue along the tips of my fangs and watch for signs of hostility. “Be cautious, but move quickly. We can’t stay here for much longer.”

  “What is it?” Briar asks, the shadow lowering from her face.

  “Beldroth. No one knows what their true forms look like, but they conceal themselves in the fallen leaves and insects. I’d be impressed if you can hear their clicking. It’s the way they communicate with one another,” I explain.

  Briar reaches for her dagger.

  I wave my arm, hoping that my betrothed won’t have to use the dagger. “Quickly now, we aren’t far from Yolnheim. It’s another forest, but it’ll take us closer to the Archech without having to double back through the Blood Forest when we return to the castle.”

  My ears perk at the sound of her voice. “Why can’t we just cut through the mountains?”

  “Yes, Kane, why can’t we cut through the mountains?” Willem asks sarcastically.

  He knows Briar will never make it through such a harsh terrain, especially with the hierarchy demons who call the obsidian peaks their home. I shake my head once and lead them along the winding path that cuts through the trees. The Beldroth grow bold, inching closer as we reach the edge of the forest. One moves in front of Briar’s mount. One blink and the creature is out of sight once more. Trepidation gnaws at my insides.

  I pause for just a moment and then take off, yelling at the others. “Go! Race for the border!”

  “How will I know I’ve reached Yolnheim?” Briar asks, clinging tightly to her galloping horse.

  “You’ll see black trees with golden leaves. The Beldroth can’t cross into Yolnheim. Go there and wait for me at the entrance.” As she sped past, I slow my horse, pulling it around in a circle, scanning the forest.

  Briar comes to a screeching halt ahead and turns back. “Kane! What about you?”

  “Willem take her. I’ll hold them off.” With my eyes a jet black, I begin to muster my powers.

  The reaper nods his head and dashes through the forest. He whistles through his teeth and Briar’s mount follows his stallion obediently. Once they’re out of sight, I leap from the saddle and summon my wings. Large, fleshy appendages that resemble the wings of a bat more so than any feathered bird sprout from my back. I stand tall as the sound of retreating hooves disintegrate. An eerie silence settles upon the forest and my eyes search for the Beldroth.

  One appears, slithering towards me, but its fear causes my palms to tingle. “You stand in defiance against Death?”

  That whirring wave of clicking echoes all around. “Briar, Princess of Ryrn. She knows not of who she is,” the creature says. “But she will soon enough.”

  “What do you want?” My teeth grit and anger simmers deep within.

  “Allegiance.”

  I stand tall, shaking my head in irritation. “Allegiance to whom?”

  The Beldroth moves closer still, just inches from my face. Its stench causes my stomach to roil in protest. “Allegiance to her. Power is shifting, lines drawn on the battlefields.”

  “You are mistaken. The wars have already come and gone.”

  A strange sound builds to a roar and suddenly the Beldroth no longer stands before me. I turn right to left, giving pause for just a moment. I’m conflicted with this meeting, the Beldroth know more than most about the underworld, why would they be so far behind when they are normally two steps ahead? I stand in my place for another couple of seconds making sure that they aren’t returning. When the forest quiets to what it was before, and the thick foul stench diminishes, I climb back into the saddle. My wings and claws retract along with my fangs as I ride toward the border. Briar and Willem wait stubbornly just beyond the stark line that separates Yolnheim and the Blood Forest. The startling change from red to black and gold never fails to amaze me. Briar stares up at the trees with wonder and avid fascination in her eyes.

  “Keep your wits about you. This forest isn’t as tame as the last,” Willem warns her.

&nbs
p; I clench my hands into tight fists at the sharp bite in his tone, but I say nothing. It’s time Briar learns the truth about the underworld. If the Beldroth know that Briar is here in the forests with us, then more of the dangerous creatures could too. Her life is in more danger than I thought.

  Briar watches me as we ride and I can feel the questions. She wants to know what happened, but she fears my answer. Willem rides along next me, whispering quietly. “The Beldroth, what did they want?”

  My eyes shift to the side and back forward again. There is an apprehension in me to speak with Willem, but I don’t know why. I glance back at Briar who quickly lowers her gaze away. “They know. But they are confused. It is over, let’s move forward.”

  I pull ahead of Willem, leaving him in his thoughts. We come to a stop a few miles into Yolnheim, but the path ahead is blocked. Felled trees litter the ground. My strength still isn’t at full capacity, so moving them with magic is out of the question. “Willem, what other paths are on the map?”

  Willem pulls the map from his satchel and opens it up. “Three. One takes us to the mountains, the other two take us further into the forest. They’ll add another four days to our journey.”

  All signs point toward the mountains, so that’s exactly where we won’t go. Far too many strange incidents have happened for me to think it’s a coincidence. Something wants us in the mountains and Briar and Willem are too impatient to see it. “We take the eastern path, it’ll take us around the mountains and toward Zculth.”

  “That’ll put us in Navarre territory. They may be lesser demons, but they hunger for mortals almost as much as the Nephilim.” Willem dismounts and crouches upon one of the fallen trees. His eyes are filled with doubt, but I don’t care. It’s my decision.

  I see Briar’s shoulders slump and the slight tremor that courses through her body. “I read about Yolnheim and Zculth, none of the texts mention Navarre. What are they?”

  I don’t want to tell her, but she is a rider in this voyage and needs to be prepared. “Ugly, horned demons that travel in large hordes. If you come across one, there’s likely to be at least a dozen more lying in wait. We’ve fought them in the past. They aren’t very strong, but their numbers give them an advantage. We’ll most likely have to fight our way through-”

  “Is the mountain path safer?” Briar cuts me off and turns to face Willem. He doesn’t answer. Instead, he looks to me.

  I pull my horse up beside Briar and grip her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze. “You may not trust me at the moment, Briar, but I’m trying to keep you alive. We have a better chance at making it through Yolnheim than we do fighting off what lives in the mountains.”

  Her eyes dart around and I want to jump from my saddle and slam my fist into Willem’s teeth for mentioning the Nephilim. She breathes deeply, nuzzling into the palm of my hand like a touch starved kitten. Blue begins to seep into the edges of her irises. I pull my hand away and turn towards the east.

  We head out, Willem quietly grumbling. Briar’s eyes are alert, scanning all around her, jumping at almost every sound. The path narrows the closer we get to the heart of the forest and we’re forced to walk along the uneven passage with our horses in tow. As we reach the breakaway into the more open areas, we return to our steed’s backs but move slow and with caution. The horses are fast but I am faster on my feet. Briar may not be.

  Light breaks through the canopy, reflecting off the golden leaves. Briar gasps as beams of luminescence refract in a rainbow of colors. She slowly dismounts her horse and reaches out a pale hand with a stunning grin. I notice then that faint dimples wink at me from beneath her cowl. Willem huffs and leaves to scout the path ahead. I watch her as I climb down, throwing the reins over the saddle. My feet carry me over to her and I place a hand on her shoulder.

  “It’s beautiful,” she breathes. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  “Come. I want to teach you something.” I tie off our horses at the clearing and take Briar’s hand in my own.

  She flexes her fingers slightly, but I don’t release her. We walk a few paces from the path and I bring her to an overhang. Below us, the forest stretches on for miles. In the distance is Zculth, a land of barren stone and ash.

  Only the most diligent travelers dare to cross those hissing wastelands. “If you’re ever alone out here, never hide in the shadows.”

  Her head whips toward mine, a look of fear on her face. “What?”

  My lips tighten, and I nod back toward Willem who stays squatted with the horses. I lower my voice just a bit. “I saw you sneaking up on Willem. I don’t know what’s going on between the two of you or why there’s so much animosity, but I saw you creeping through the shadows like a thief in the night. Not only does it not suit you, but it’ll get you killed.”

  She stares at me for a moment, searching my gaze for something, but what I don’t know. Taking in a deep breath, she glances back toward Willem and then turns, crossing her arms over her chest. Looking out over the expanse of the forest, I can feel her fear whipping wildly inside of her.

  “Then where should I hide?” she whispers.

  “In the light. The creatures of the underworld are drawn to the shadows naturally. If you stay in the light, it can keep you safe. In some cases, it might even save your life. There are things out here that can’t tolerate it. It burns them or reminds them of the things they suffered in life.” My eyes roam the vast landscape of vibrant colors.

  She is silent for several moments and then turns to me, an adorable bravery in her shoulders. “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Because you’re right, Briar. You might have to save yourself sometimes.”

  She chews thoughtfully on her bottom lip, turning back to the overlook. “I didn’t mean to offend you when I said that. But lying would have been a greater offense, I think.”

  My lip twitches, wanting to smirk but finding the gravity of the situation too dire. “Do you want to learn more?”

  She nods her head and looks over at me. “I do.”

  We walk back to the clearing. I point to the places on the ground where the ever-falling leaves never land. “Those are rifts. Places in the underworld where residual magic pools. Some of them are harmless. Others can trap you in a time loop until someone pulls you out. Others can kill you instantly if your body can’t withstand raw power.”

  She stands next to one, staring down. “How do you know which is which?”

  “You don’t. It’s best to avoid them whenever possible.” I can feel her intrigue and curiosity as she walks beside me. “Pushing an enemy into a rift can buy you time or be the lifeline that drags you back from the brink of death.”

  Briar pulls her hand to her lips, tapping her fingers against her soft supple skin. “So, if I’m dying and I crawl towards a rift, it can keep me in a loop to prolong my death? Can the raw power rifts reinforce healing spells or other types of magic?”

  I stop to consider her words. “If you can endure it, I guess it’s possible. But there have been many scholars who have mastered areas of the arcane arts who are still baffled by rifts. It’s a good reminder that, no matter how much we may want answers, we should keep in mind that there’s a possibility that there are no answers to our questions.”

  A low growl emits from the trees. Willem runs back toward us and slides across the ground. Briar cries out as the reaper steps into a rift. My second goes completely still. More growling fills the air.

  I grab Briar and cover her mouth, my eyes darting as I whisper in her ear. “We’re surrounded.”

  We move to stand in front of Willem, my eyes glowing black. I tap her dagger. “Now is the time.”

  The Navarre attack as the words barely have time to reach her ears. Their jagged swords slash towards us in deadly arches. Briar ducks out of the way and kicks her attacker back. I call upon my darkness and a sword of pure shadow appears in my clawed hands.

  I throw my head back in a blood curdling battle cry and drive my blade through the chest
of a Navarre. I vault over his body toward the demon who pursues my bride. Briar sidesteps another advance before rushing over to Willem. She shoves him out of the rift, screaming as red hot power burns her palm where she touches him. Willem snaps out of his trance, sweat pouring down his face. Briar pulls out her dagger and buries it to the hilt in the underside of a Navarre’s chin. Green, sticky blood flows over her hands and she recoils.

  There isn’t time to watch her the way I want, so I move swiftly with the shadows, ravaging anything I come across. The Navarre are treacherous but I am faster, even with my powers waning. I slaughter eight demons and my sword evaporates with a snap of my fingers. The clan leader barrels into me, but I drag my claws across his face before tearing out his heart. I feel the last throb of his pulse before he crumbles at my feet.

  I throw the heart into the dirt with a sneer and turn quickly to find my queen. Briar pulls her blade from the third Navarre to die by her hand, the bodies lying at her feet in bloody pools. My eyes shift to Willem who has just fully come to from being stuck in the time warp of the rift. Willem stares at Briar with surprise evident on his face. He should be thankful, though she may not have done it on purpose, she kept him alive during those few quick moments of battle. But I know Willem, he will only think of it as one of millions of debts paid by the humans for their centuries of treachery.

  My chest clenches as her fear returns along with a new wave of guilt. I return to her side and pry the dagger from her bloodied hand. She stiffens when I reach behind her back and sheath the blade in its holder. I want to use my powers to calm her, but she needs to be alert. The journey is not over, nor is the danger that lies ahead.

  “Come, we must leave. There are far too many dangers lurking around us to sit still.” I help Briar onto her horse, stopping and looking up into her foggy stare. “I know this has been hard, but you are not out of danger. I need you to push past this fear you feel and stay alert. Can you do that?”

  Briar swallows, her eyes fixating on the blood spattered hair of her horse. After a few brief moments they shift toward mine and she silently nods. I pat her hand and jump on my horse, riding up next to Willem. He says nothing, just hands me the map. I run my finger along the line he has marked, and hand it back, pulling off.