Page 43 of A Touch of Shadows

A wall of Ilanthian guards slammed into him from behind, bringing him to the floor and into oblivion.

CHAPTER 25

WREN

Leander’s body pressed hard against hers and the knife was a burning line against her skin. The trickle of blood crept lower and she trembled, hating herself.

Whatever Wren had done to Finn transformed him into a wild thing triggered by her scream, killing and maiming with an unholy speed, his eyes burning with blue fire, leaving her sick and shaking. She didn’t know what she’d done or how, only that it must have come from her.

Just like the light that had healed him last night. Maybe part of that. She had changed him. Made him hers.

What kind of beast had she made of him?

The guards finally secured him and dragged him outside. Leander shoved her forward with his whole body, still holding the knife at her throat. His other arm encircled her chest, pinning her arms to her side as they stepped out into the encampment.

‘Don’t get any ideas,’ he told her, in a voice that wasn’t as firm as he tried to make it sound. She could smell his fear and, despite her predicament, it sent a thrill of vengeance through her.

His charm was gone now, that thin veneer of civility. It had all been an act. She’d been a fool to be taken in but there was nothing she could do about that now.

‘What are you going to do?’

‘I’m going to kill him. Like I should have done the moment I saw his sorry face. I thought to help you, show you the truth, to teach you. But it’s going to have to be a different lesson, isn’t it?’

She wanted to threaten him, to find some way out, but there was nothing. He knew Finn was her weakness now.

‘I’ll do what you want. Please, just… just leave him alone. I’ll make him behave. I’ll find a way.’ She didn’t know how she’d do that, but she had to try. She couldn’t let him kill Finn.

‘Too late, princess. There’s nothing left of him there to control. Don’t you see that?’

Manacles snapped closed around Finn’s wrists and suddenly the strength seemed to go out of him. The metal glowed with an unearthly nimbus, as if she’d been staring into the sun and looked away, a sort of half-light glow. It was black and blue, and it burned. Finn bit back a scream, but the pain on his face was self-evident.

‘That’ll hold him long enough,’ Leander said and released Wren. She staggered forward and fell to her knees in the dirt, staring at Finn, unable to tear her gaze away.

‘Never seen that before, have you? Shadow-wrought, blessed by the Nox herself ages past. It negates the power you put in him. Now do as you’re told or I’ll put them on you as well. I’m told it’s like ice, so cold it burns. Leave it on too long and it’ll kill you. But you’d lose your mind first. Probably best you don’t find out just yet.’ Leander stalked towards Finn. Though never getting too near, she noticed.

Finn snarled at him, his body shaking with agony, his eyes narrowed to slits.

‘Give me a sword. I want to do this myself.’ The weapon handed to Leander was huge, the type of thing to be wielded with both hands. He lifted it with ease, swirling it before him without any apparent effort. His confidence oozed back through him and he grinned at her. ‘I’ll deal with this and then I’ll be back to you. Don’t go anywhere, little one. We’re just getting started with your lessons.’

This couldn’t be happening.

She fixed her gaze on Finn’s face, his features taut with agony, his blazing eyes blind with it. He bared his teeth at the crown prince of Ilanthus. He knew what was happening. He knew he was going to die and there was nothing he could do. Somewhere within the feral creature she had made of him, he was still there. And he knew. His gaze latched back on to hers.

The force of the look struck her like a physical blow. Need, desperation, hunger, everything all wrapped up in one. It was as if a wild animal gazed at her from his eyes, but one who would do anything for her, who needed her more than he needed life itself.

Leander raised the sword. It glinted in the light of the setting sun, casting a long black shadow on the ground between them.

Wren’s breath caught in her throat.

The shadow was stretching out towards her, darkening, and somewhere she heard the singing that haunted her nightmares. And the whispering dare that came with it.

You could destroy him if you wanted to. There are different words of othertongue. Words that can do more than you could ever imagine.

She could almost hear them, in the song behind the voice. Words that would solve everything, that would make her strong.

All you have to do is reach out. Claim them.

So she did.