The shadow horse nickered impatiently as the soldiers worked to swing open the gate doors. The heavy iron creaked and groaned as one side was pushed open to make way for Caliban and his warhorse of living shadow. Meanwhile I kept my head down and covered but feeling the increasing stares of Thanatens the entire time weighing me down.Unease slithered into the pit of my belly and pressed into me like a beast as we crossed over the bridge and the gate behind us was slammed shut and locked once more. I could feel the claws of anxiety sinking into me and attempting to drag me down as that dark castle got closer.The king wasn't talking to me, instead we rode in silence towards his home. I didn't want to be afraid, but there was no promise of what was awaiting me once me arrived at his home. It didn't feel real in a way, where I was. This was all beginning to feel like some nightmare and that feeling wouldn't stop plaguing me.A paved stone pathway led us from the bridge to the gatehouse o
On the first day I woke up disoriented with my head pounding. The sun was just beginning to rise, and I left the four-poster bed in the tower and trudged over the thin rug to the balcony door. At first the door stuck as though it hadn't been opened in ages, but once it swung free a rush of cold morning air blew in and my tangled hair whipped around my face.It was a small, round balcony with a thick iron railing. In the horizon I saw where the sun was beginning to rise. Leaning against the railing I released a sigh and surveyed the land while I awaited the sunshine. The long river continued to wind away into the valley, and I could see the ridge to the south where I had been when I first saw Umbra.Further to the right I could see some of the capital in the growing light and despite my circumstances I was still impressed with the colorful city and glistening blue water of the canals. From this height and distance, I tried to enjoy the sight.When orange and red light blossomed over th
A few items had been left behind in the white oak dresser and I picked at what was available. All the clothing colors were dark and most of the materials were thick and soft for wearing outside in the cold. I pulled out a black silk dress that was small and lightweight enough to wear to sleep and slipped it on. Having nothing better to do I sat at the vanity and brushed through my hair while avoiding looking at my reflection.When the sun had been gone for hours, I turned off the gas lamp on the desk and crawled into the bed on the dais. In the pitch black of the room my mind wanted to run over me with dangerous thoughts. It didn't feel good to admit that the darkness around me was sinking into my mind and becoming its own creature.The second day was much the same as the first. I tried harder to stop and question the servants when they brought my meals but the guard with them was always there to warn me away with a stern glance and flash of weapon. Those meals were left mostly untouc
Two days later I woke up with the sunlight streaming into my eyes through the tall floor to ceiling windows in the warm room. My head was throbbing, but I managed to sit up and look around the room. A large black stone fireplace was in the wall across the room and the pale grey walls were nearly bare. A few shelves held medical tools and medicinal supplies. At the back I noticed a large Ashwood desk with scattered papers and books.A closet door stood ajar and I could hear someone within rustling through the shelves inside. At my left a small table held an empty bowl of what smelled like broth and an empty pitcher of water. When I swung my legs over to get out of the narrow hospital bed a wave of nausea rushed over me and I nearly fell from the bed with a loud groan as I swayed toward the floor.My breath whooshed out of me when a sturdy body caught me and gently laid me back into the bed once more. After a few dizzying seconds my head stopped spinning and I managed to open my eyes ag
"Nonsense, I never doubted you." His tone was deep and reserved now. I let my eyes roam over his cleaned-up appearance and marveled at how splendid Caliban looked.His long white hair had been braided at the side and was out of his face showing off how perfectly sculpted it was. A black cloak of some fine material was draped around his shoulders and held in place with a gold clasp across his chest. New black pieces of jewelry befitting his status adorned the length of his ears and fingers now and a thin black gold circlet graced his brow.A king in his castle.As if he felt me staring his eyes drifted back in my direction as he looked me up and down in the infirmary bed. I was painfully reminded that I must look like a wild beast after sleeping for so long without a bath and nothing more than a rumpled sleeping gown on my body.Caliban took a step further into the room in my direction and my breath lurched in my throat. His hand at his side opened and closed repetitively and I noticed
The shadow king stepped closer once more and leaned in until his mouth was near my ear. "I'd much rather give you a reason to spread your legs for me again.""No, wait." I pulled away with a continuing sinking feeling in my gut. "I might not be a prisoner but I'm still a Mithran princess and you're the king here. What happened on the journey here... We both know it was wrong."Caliban growled and straightened to his full impressive height. "You think I don't know that? That I don't know my desire for you is depraved and dangerous?"He grabbed me by my upper arms and pulled me into his hard chest and I gasped. Tears were building in the corners of my eyes as my swarming thoughts and exhaustion slammed into me."Why else do you think I avoided you to the point I didn't know what state you were in? I was trying to purge you out of my system by burying myself in busywork. Yet it didn't work!" His lips fell on mine and I whimpered from the force of his kiss."You've plagued my mind since t
Soft moans left my lips and my lashes fluttered as I began to wake up with the pleasurable sensations between my thighs rousing me. As my senses came to me, I gasped lightly and felt a hard tongue pressed to my clit and rough hands holding my thighs. The tongue circled my sensitive bud and my back arched against the soft mattress.It was still dark in the room with nothing more than the barely rising sun sending in a hint of light. I lifted my head to look down, but a thick blanket was still covering my body, yet I could feel him between my legs.A gasp flew from my lips when I felt teeth gently bite down before his tongue went back to licking and flicking my sensitive folds. My body began to squirm as the luxurious bliss grew stronger in my core and waves of heat spread across my skin. I reached below the blanket and grabbed the silky white hair at the back of his head.I felt hot air on my wet core as he growled against my skin when I lightly tugged his hair. His hands gripped my wa
I clamped my teeth down on the blanket and released a muffled scream while kicking my legs wildly."What just happened?" I hissed to myself while looking around the room. "This is the bedroom of the shadow king and I woke up with him between my legs!"I palmed my face and rubbed my eyes as if when I moved my hands away, I'd wake up from a dream. But I needed this moment alone to think through the situation I was in as everything seemed to be happening at breakneck speed.On my way to marry Duke Ayden Sulien my carriage was ambushed by the Thanaten king, Caliban Mor'gen. His soldiers had killed my handmaidens and guards then his soldiers were slaughtered by a ghoulcat.During the journey to the shadow elf capital, we had argued and given in to the veracious desire that drew us together even though we were born enemies. Now we were in the palace and after the misunderstanding of my brief imprisonment there was a strange sort of relationship that was continuing to develop between me and