Trial for The Shadow KingCaptive of Shadows
Bailey Dark
Copyright © 2019 by Bailey Dark
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
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Chapter 1
Kane
The red, heady glow of the ever-setting sun filters through the windows into my office. I stare intently at the wood grains in my desk, tracing them with black eyes. Fingers laced and propped over my mouth I exhale through my nose. My breath flutters at the pages of work on my desk, but the sound hardly registers. I can hear blood pumping in my ears, like the steady rhythm of a war drum. It isn't mine. I tap my foot irritably as I try to control the waves of emotions and physical sensations pouring into me from Briar. She's flooded with adrenaline, and now so am I.
I grind my teeth, boring holes into my desk as I glower at it. It’s only been two days since I accidentally created a soul bond between Briar and me. Blocking it has only been marginally successful. It seems that when Briar feels heightened emotions, the walls I have to continually rebuild between us come crumbling down. I dig my heels into the wooden floor as a wave of adrenaline hits me again. I have to steady myself to avoid reeling backward with the force of it.
“Damn it,” I growl. “What is she doing?”
I rise, scowling, and stalk towards the door. My limbs tingle with energy, growing more powerful as I near her. I follow the soulbond through the halls to one of the upper floors I rarely visit. I can hear Briar panting as I grow closer, the sound of her breath echoing in my ears as if she were right beside me. A shiver trails down my spine as I imagine what it must be like to feel her hot breath on my ear. Focus, I snap at myself. With the soul bond, the desire I felt for her before has only grown stronger. I have access to her needs and desires all the time now, and even her true feelings which she so carefully hides. I stop outside the door and consider knocking before rolling my eyes. It’s my damn castle.
Quietly, I slip through the door and linger in the shadows near the wall. The room is large, big enough for a set of weights, a rope to climb, a sparring mat, and a series of dummies. Briar lunges at a dummy, dagger in hand. The silver blade glints prettily in the light until she stabs it into the dummy’s chest with ferocity. Again, and again, quickly, she drives it into its chest. It takes her only seconds to stab the dummy six times. She leaps away, breathing hard. I narrow my eyes at her, tracking her movements. I watch the way her feet drift across the floor with purpose, always placed expertly to move quickly and retain her balance. She keeps her center of gravity low, hunching her shoulders slightly and attacking as she exhales.
My little mortal has had training. Good training.
I smirk, surprised. Briar is so timid, her skills in combat seem almost unreal. I cock my head as she flings her leg high enough to bring it down hard on the dummy’s crown. She retracts it immediately after making contact, bouncing back a few steps to recover. Briar doesn’t wait long before she attacks again, this time with her dagger at an angle in her fist. She pummels the practice dummy with punches and then slips around him without making a sound. Her blade drags across its side and back as she goes, spilling out cotton.
I feel another wash of adrenaline from her and a small hint of satisfaction. I crack my knuckles and roll my shoulders. How long has it been since I was up here practicing my fighting? Too many years to count. I grew bored of it after a time but watching Briar has kindled my interest again. Her brow sheens with sweat, and her dark shirt is damp with it. Briar's dark hair, normally so perfect and glossy, is frizzy and barely tamed in a braid. She cries out, a battle roar, and throws herself at the dummy. My lips part in surprise as she digs the dagger into the dummy's neck with enough force to sever its head. A wicked grin tugs at my lips as I imagine Briar covered in blood, panting over her felled enemy. I lick my lips. It’s enough to make me hungry.
Clapping slowly, I slip from the shadows I built around myself and into the light. Briar starts, jumping in surprise. She whirls on me, cheeks red from exertion, chest rising and falling with each heavy breath. I rake my eyes over her. I can't stop the purr that rumbles from my chest when our eyes meet. She takes a hesitant step backward, dropping her gaze, but I notice the throb in her core through the soul bond. Night, she'll be the death of me.
“Impressive,” I say, circling her and the headless dummy.
“Thank you, Kane.” Her voice is small, as if unsure of herself.
I purse my lips, wondering if her father perhaps disapproved of her skill set. “How long have you been trained in combat? You don’t seem the type.”
Briar straightens, clutching at her dagger. I returned it to her after our bout with the Nephilim. She’s in danger here; even from me. “Since I was young. My father had me taught by the best from all over the continent.”
“And your sisters?” I cock a brow, already knowing
