Bound to the Shadow Prince

Chapter 19: Encounter

“What are you doing?”

Torrin’s voice made me jump.

I was sure I looked ridiculous. My shackled leg stretched way out behind me as I tried to peer as far out of the window as I could to see the night sky.

Torrin approached his bed folding his arms.

“Trying to escape?”

I shook my head. “According to Secasha, an astronomer, tonight a comet will cross our night skies. It only ever comes roughly every seventy-five years. And according to my calculations and his, it could come tonight, and I want to see it.”

He approached the window, glancing up into the sky.

“I don’t see anything.”

“I don’t know when it will come.”

He leaned back.

“It's a bit hard to see it from the castle window.”

“I'd rather see it than not.”

“I’ll make you a deal.”

I glanced back at him, curious what deal he could make.

He said, “I’ll let you leave the castle wall. If-“ I drew in a quick breath. “If you take me with you to your spot.”

I gaped at him. Was he serious? Could I go back to my spot? I could hear the waves and be under the clear blanket of the stars once again.

“Truly?”

He nodded.

I jumped from the bed and flung myself into his arms in pure happiness and excitement. He took a step back at my sudden impact, pulling his arms around me and squeezed me to his body.

He set me down and took off my shackle around my ankle. It clanked hard to the ground. I felt alive, and I couldn’t help smile as I sprinted into my closet. In record time, I was in a silver and dark blue cotton dress with a black shawl.

Torrin watched my own excitement with a small smile of his own. I grabbed his hand, pulling him towards the door.

“Come on!”

“You don’t want to climb out the window?”

“Stop teasing,” I giggled. “We must hurry so we don’t miss it.”

Torrin indulged me to the point he jogged through the palace until he went outside. With Torrin at my side, nothing was questioned when he demanded his horse and strolled through the front gate to wait. How I desired such freedom.

Torrin’s horse was retrieved, and he pulled himself up onto it. He held out his hand. Knowing it had to be done his way or no way, I had no choice but to take his hand. He lifted me into the saddle in front of him. I was pressed up into his body. His breath tickled my neck. His arm wrapped around my abdomen.

“Lead the way.”

I directed Torrin through the forest, to my hidden path, and towards my spot near the ocean. Throughout the ride, I kept my head tilted upward, refusing to miss the comet. Anytime I tilted to the right to look towards that night sky, Torrin would softly kiss my cheek. The uncomfortable gesture would have kept me blushing if I still could do that skill.

“Stop. We are here.”

I tried to slide off the saddle, but Torrin quickly grabbed me again, lifting me back into the saddle.

He said, “One moment.”

He pulled out a rope and tied it around my wrist before he did the same around his.

“Don’t want you disappearing on me.”

I pulled my lips in. It was definitely a tempting thought. He got off first, then helped me off the saddle. He gripped my hand as I walked through the trees to my small area on a small ledge near the ocean.

Briefly closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply, feeling myself immediately relaxed.

I sat down on the grass, forcing my arm to rise above my head. I pulled the rope connecting us, bringing Torrin down to sit next to me.

The last time I was there with a man was with my stranger, who turned out to be the king of the Dark Kingdom. Now I was here with the king of Kilgindore.

The jewels of the sky twinkled in the dark sky with the presence of the moon pretty much still not there. No clouds could be seen, and I anxiously awaited for the comet.

Torrin beside me was fidgeting. He shifted on the grass, put his hands together, then tapped his leg.

“You’re not used to being still, aren’t you?”

He glanced at me. “Is it that obvious? There is always something to do. Something that needs to be done.”

“Yes. But there’s nothing wrong with slowing down either, taking a moment to enjoy what’s around you.”

“I’ll enjoy life when the Dark Kingdom no longer lingers over me.”

“Why do you wish for their extinction?”

“Many reasons. They are unnatural abominations. They violate the laws of nature. What vampires do and what they are is not right. You should know.”

My hand immediately went to my shoulder and I thought about poor Garith.

Torrin said, “My first wife felt the same way. Her family had been attacked and pushed out of their land. She used to talk about how her parents were so scared of the night and fearful for their children. She dedicated her life to learning about them and finding their weaknesses. The Dark Kingdom’s King killed her.” He gripped his hands. “He ripped out her heart. There was nothing I could do, it was the worst day of my life.”

I had never seen Torrin show such vulnerability, even if he told me his story like one would give a book report.

But I kept wondering if the king, Torrin had said, was referring to was Erevus. I tried to imagine if Erevus would do something as ripping out the heart of the Queen of Kilgindore.

“I’m sorry, Torrin. That sounds terrible.”

He shook off my touch. “It doesn’t matter now. Because I am going to see all vampires die. They don’t belong here.”

I turned my head towards the forest in the direction of Elithor. Did they truly not belong? I disagreed. The vampires in Elithor deserved to live.

A flash in the sky brought my eyes to the heavens. A large ball of light emerged into the atmosphere, a tail of white light traveled behind.

I gasped. It was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. I gripped Torrin’s arm in wonder and excitement. It was a crystal gliding across the black sea. I watched the full progression of its arched trajectory with bated breath until it went over the mountain and out of view.

I turned to Torrin with wide eyes and an emerging smile.

“Did you see that? Did you see how brilliant it was?”

He didn’t appear as impressed, but he nodded his head all the same.

I shook my head. “That was beautiful. Thank you, Torrin.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck and forced his wrist that was attached to the rope to rise. His other hand moved across my lower back, pulling me closer to him. I felt mesmerized by the moment. Never had I seen a comet so bright and with a long shining tail behind it. I was overcome with gratitude that this stern, controlling man brought me out here so I could see it.

“Thank you. I needed this,” I whispered against him.

He leaned back and kissed my lips. His right hand touched the side of my face, moving to the back and held my head there while he kissed me deeply. Moving my head one way and then another as he kissed me thoroughly.

I pulled away once his hand released my head, putting distance between us. As he looked back into the sky, I subtly wiped away the wetness from my lips. In my peripheral vision, I saw a shadow. When I twisted my head further to the side, surprise rippled over me. Erevus was standing in the shadows, hidden from anyone but a vampire.

He held my eyes and I could see anger contorting his features as his eyes flicked to Torrin. The two enemy kings feet away from each other. All breath escaped me. I could see his intent to kill, but I couldn’t let him. Not when Torrin had risked himself to bring me here, just so I could have a moment. And what about the hidden silver blades among his clothes? On the ride, I could feel the heat of them as they neared my skin. Did Erevus know about those?

“Torrin, I need to… go to the bathroom.”

“Then we can head back to the castle.”

“No, I need to go now.” I gently touched his arm. “I promise I won’t go far. I promise.”

He scrutinized me for a long moment.

I said, “Besides, there isn’t enough light for me to make it far anyway. It’s too dark.”

“Take off your shoes.”

“What?”

“Take off your shoes. If you aren’t back in two minutes, I’m coming after you and I know you couldn’t make it far without shoes on.”

I silently did as I was told and took off my slippers, letting my feet touch the cool grass.

Torrin said, “If I have to fetch you, the consequences will be severe.”

“Yes. I only need a moment.”

Torrin untied my rope from my wrist. I quickly went into the forest, knowing Erevus would follow. I turned on him.

“You're spying?” I whispered almost inaudibly, knowing Erevus would have no trouble hearing it.

His voice was just as low as mine was. “I was on my way to Elithor when I smelled you.” His face grew grim and angry. His hand touched the side of my face while his thumb gently rubbed over my lips. “The way he kissed you. Nothing has ever made me more angry.”

His soft touch and his confession made warmth begin to swell up in my chest. I shook my head, I didn’t have a choice.

“Come with me,” he said.

Surprised, I jerked my head up.

He whispered it again. “Come with me, right now.”

I glanced back in the direction I had come. I couldn’t. The consequences.

“You know I can’t.”

His other hand joined in touching the sides of my face. “Yes you can. I never want him to touch you again. I don’t think I can handle knowing you are in the castle with him forcing himself upon you. I won’t. Come with me.”

My heart swelled. How I wanted to. I wanted to leave behind Torrin and his threats. Leave behind pretending I am still someone I am not. But I couldn’t. What would Torrin do? Who would be in his path of revenge?

“I can’t.”

“Then, I’ll kill him. End it for the both of us.” He took a step in the direction of Torrin when I pulled him back.

“Please, no.” Even though I knew Torrin was the cause of most of our hardship, he was also the only person standing between my sister having to marry the High Duke. If Torrin died, my sister would be forced to marry the High Duke as an advantageous political move and to help financially save our kingdom.

I couldn’t do that to her. I couldn’t allow darkness to consume the sun, because where would we be without it? Where would I be without her?

Erevus took another step around me towards Torrin. I grabbed his arm.

“Erevus,” emotion constricted my throat. He stopped.

I whispered, “My sister. Please, for me. Don’t kill him.”

Erevus clenched his hand and shook his head. He pulled me towards him, hugging me tightly. I embedded my face into his chest breathing him in.

“Thank you.”

But I felt the internal clock chime. I forced myself to step away. “I have to go.”

I heard rustling as Torrin stood on the other side of the bushes. I quickly turned away.

Erevus grabbed my hand. “No more dream walking. Understand?”

I blinked in confusion. Was the other night’s dream real then?

I heard Torrin’s approach. I let go of Erevus’s hand and quickly walked back towards Torrin.

Emerging from the underbrush, I said, “I suppose we probably should go.”

Torrin nodded. “Yes.”

I turned back to the ocean, closing my eyes, letting the sound wash over me, calming my rapid heart. I knew Erevus was in the shadows still watching.

Torrin gripped my hand. “Time to go.”

I let him pull me away from the ocean and the magical night I had experienced. We went back into the forest, walking down the barely indented path. Torrin held his grip tight on my hand, making my fingers tingle. He grabbed the reins of his horse. I glanced through the trees to see Erevus hands clenching and eyes glaring at Torrin. I knew what he wanted to do and what was becoming more tempting by the moment.

I gave Erevus one last pleading look. Erevus stopped and angrily turned, disappearing into the night. My shoulders relaxed.

Torrin said, “Is this the path you took the night you were attacked?”

I immediately tensed, not like thinking about that particular night. “Yes.”

We continued down the path, my eyes now searching for signs of the struggle of that night. I abruptly stopped. Torrin glanced behind. He followed my gaze.

Torrin leaned down, finding my small dagger in the grass. The one I had tried to kill my attacker with.

“Where did you run after this?”

My books. My bag, if my dagger was still there. Is there a chance my notebook was? How I would love to have it within my grasp again, like having an old familiar friend come back. How I craved my friend. And I have lots more to document.

“This way.”

I pulled his hand further into the forest, trying to remember the night. I searched around wanting to find it. After about ten minutes, I found my bag with its bright colors sticking out into the night nearly hidden in the tall grass and bush. Not wanting to alert Torrin to my vision. I pretended to wander in that direction. I brushed against the bush.

Torrin pulled me to a stop.

“Isn’t that your bag?”

“You found my bag?” I acted surprised and excited.

He picked it up and handed it to me. I grabbed the bag, pulling my hand along the broken strap, but the bag was empty. My scroll, my notebook, and my only astronomy book were missing. I looked around.

Torrin knelt down, putting his hand along the flattened grass, scrutinizing the area.

“Did you run further?”

I did. But I didn’t care to go further, not when Erevus was in those woods and I needed Torrin to stay alive.

“I was attacked here. I didn’t go further.”

Torrin remained a moment longer, nodding his head. He stood.

“Come on. I had better get you home.”

He lifted me onto his horse before he got up behind me and directed his horse back to the castle.

I gripped my bag, wondering why suddenly I felt like I had done something wrong. Like I had made a mistake going to my spot with Torrin. I shook it off because I was able to see the most glorious comet that had filled my whole being with a magical wonder of our universe.