I wouldn’t find out today.
One look at him and I knew trying to force the truth out of him would prove useless.
I’d come to believe that maybe those who’d held their silence had been bound by oaths that prevented them from sharing their secrets. It was odd to interrogate so many and always end with the same result.
Only one had been willing to comply with me. Marcus. The guard whose baby had contracted the Slivershade blight. He died with the truth on his lips.
The best thing to do here was to watch Thayden. Keep eyes and ears on him at all times.
I stirred all sorts of trouble just for being alive. The enemy was bound to show its face soon enough.
“We’re done here.” I let ice creep into my voice, each syllable jabbed like a blade pressed against his throat. Let him keep his secrets—for now.
His eyes went saucer-wide, pupils contracting like drops of ink in water. His body seemed to be focusing on the stunning reality that I was letting him live.
“That’s it?” He was a fool to ask. “I find it hard to believe you don’t want more penance from me.”
“I said we’re done. Unless you want that council meeting.”
“No,” the word tumbled out of his mouth.
“Besides.” A spiteful smile slide across my lips. “I think today was enough penance for now. It is not your ring that sits upon Elariya’s finger. It’s mine.” I could have gone on about the land but it wouldn’t matter to him. I’d known long ago that he was in love with her. His father probably wanted the land and the titles that came with it. But Thayden wanted the girl.
He said nothing. Again, no surprise.
Instead, he turned and walked toward the door.
I would have allowed him to go but I wasn’t completelyfinishedwith him yet.
And I’d never said he could leave.
When he reached the door and opened it my nearest shadow grew long talonlike fingers and shut it back.
Thayden’s back went rigid. “Thought you said we were done.” He tossed the words over his shoulder, not looking at me.
“There is one other matter I needed to discuss.”
Slowly he faced me, his eyes flaring. “What matter, Lord Nightblade?”
I stood and spread my arms wide allowing my body to change into death’s malevolent form.
I became a mass of shadow and terror, and my unfurled wings amplified my monstrosity.
My shadows responded to my fury, lashing out like giant serpents. They wrapped around Thayden's body, lifting him from the floor until his feet kicked uselessly in the air.
He never had a chance to fight. Dark tendrils circled his throat. Frantically he clawed at them, but there was nothing solid for him to grasp.
"I saw the bruise on her cheek," I said, my voice deadly calm as I held him suspended. "I saw the fingernail marks on her neck." The shadows tightened their grip, and his face began to flush red. "You did that to her."
Elariya had tried to hide her marks with some sort of beauty powder. But I’d seen through it.
I’d also scented this bastard on her, scented the fear he instilled in her.
Thayden’s mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for water, trying to form words that wouldn't come.
I let the shadows carry him higher, until his head hit the high ceiling.
There I rose up to meet him and I gazed at him with hollowed eyes, the promise of death written in every line of my face.
