Page 82 of Shadow Kissed
A few girls giggle at the mating reference and I roll my eyes.
Saveya’s hand shoots up, and she waves it back and forth in her eagerness to speak. “Wait, so you’re saying that we’ll live an extra hundred years?”
Master Aven smiles and nods. “Yes, another of our gifts to you is an extended life span.”
“Cool!” Saveya says, grinning and looking at me as if to say, ‘isn’t it amazing?’ I shudder at the thought of another hundred years of a life I didn’t choose.
Class ends and even though I was lacking enthusiasm in attending, it gave me food for thought. I’m not sure how I feel about the extended life span. It would mean I would see my brothers die long before me. I snort to myself—not that I’ll actually see them again—but just knowing they would die so many years before me means one day everyone I love will be gone. If anything, the class has fuelled my determination to support the rebellion.
32
REYA
The following morning is our weekly reward trip to the markets. A chance for us to spend the allowance they provide us with and to have a morning free from classes and learning. Whilst the other girls are excited at the prospect of buying new ribbons and trinkets, I’m bursting with excitement for our afternoon class of combat. I’m itching to hold a sword in my hand and feel like my old self again. Trying so hard to do better at feminine skills such as crochet and music is taking its toll and I’m ready to let all my frustration out in the ring.
We leave the mansion and begin the short walk to the market; each dorm is accompanied by their house mistress to ensure we don’t mingle too much with any Asen soldiers or single males. I mean, we can’t have a chosen one getting herself pregnant with an Asen bairn now, can we?
The market—filled with vibrant colours of fabric and the delicious smell of baked goods—is bustling with customers when we arrive. Whilst Saveya talks excitedly about which stalls she wants to visit first; I scan the busy market to see if I can spot anopportunity to sneak away and speak with Arkynn. I have heard nothing from him or the rebellion leader since that first meeting, and I’m eager to make myself more useful to their cause.
I’m staring into space at a jewellery stall when I hear the familiar whistle of a meryn sparrow and my eyes dart toward the sound. My eyes find Arkynn. He leans around the side of a nearby building and beckons me to follow him. I look behind me to see where our house mistress is and, luckily, find she’s distracted talking to a stall holder behind us. I slowly edge away from the stall and checking around to make sure no one is watching me. I weave through the crowd to where he waits for me. His hand reaches out and pulls me up the side of the building. Before I can say a word, he envelopes me in a tight hug.
“Crystals, I’ve missed you.” He sighs, and I relax into his hug, desperate to feel something familiar and safe. Ark reminds me of home and of happier times. He leans back and scans my face. “How are you holding up?”
I roll my eyes and groan. “It’s torture, Ark. Hours of dance classes and sewing and music. All training me to be the perfect little shadow wife. I hate it.”
Ark’s lips quirk upwards. “Not enjoying being one of the girls, then?”
I sigh. “I’ve never fit in, and I can’t see that changing here.” I glance behind me to check no one has seen us. “Anything for me?”
He nods his head and leans in closer to my ear. “We need someone to get into the commander’s office and locate the route for a shipment of onyx that is being transported to their headquarters in the north district. I said I’d try, but if I’m caught in the commander’s offices without permission.” He makes a cutting gesture across his throat.
“I can do it,” I insist eagerly. “I’ll get into his office.”
Ark looks at me, conflicted. “Are you sure? If you’re caught…”
“Then I’ll talk my way out of it. Trust me. I can do this,” I insist, and after a moment of hesitation, he nods his head. “I should go before I’m missed.”
Ark reaches for me again and pulls me in for another hug. “In a few months, this will all be over and then we’ll get you out and we can be together, truly together. I know I hurt you, but you and me, Reya, it makes sense. No one knows you like I do.”
I hastily untangle myself from him and clear my throat. After everything that happened, he still thinks we can be together. Could we? I mean, I no longer harbour those feelings for him. It was a juvenile puppy love, but he’s the closest thing to home I have.
“I have to go. Speak soon.” I move to turn away, but Ark yanks me back towards him and presses his mouth against mine. My eyes widen in shock and then alarm. What the hell is he thinking?
Before I can yank myself away, I’m ripped away from him and on my backside on the floor. I look up in shock to see Raegal with eyes as black as night, his shadows wrapped around Ark’s neck. Ark grapples at the shadows, trying to pull them off as he dangles in mid-air.
“You dare to touch her!” he hisses coldly. “You dare to think you can disobey my orders? You just signed your own death penalty.”
I scramble to my feet and rush to stand in front of Raegal. His eyes don’t move from their target as he squeezes the air from Arkynn’s lungs. I place my hands on his chest.
“Raegal. Please stop. He didn’t mean to. Arkynn knows we can never be. He knows I don’t want him like that.”
Raegal’s dark eyes fall on me and I should fear the darkness in his eyes, but I don’t. “Please don’t hurt him. He and the twins are all I have left. He’s my friend. Please.” I plead, my voice breaking. “I can’t lose anyone else in my life. I won’t survive it.”
I hear Arkynn falling to the floor behind me, and he gulps in large breaths of air. The shadows that were seconds ago squeezing the life out of him are now surrounding me and I yelp in surprise as Raegal yanks me against his body and shadow weaves us away.
No sooner do his shadows disappear than he has me pressed up against the wall of his office, his hands gripping my chin.
“Is he what you want? That pathetic boy who couldn’t see what was right before his eyes all those years? Does he make you whimper with pleasure like I can?” He cups at my sex over my skirts. “Answer me!”