The Monster and His Queen

Chapter 5

"You can't just kill people because they threaten me!"

Draven's eyes flashed dangerous gold. "Yes, I can. That's exactly what I can do."

They stood in the center of Elaria's room, the air between them crackling with tension. The shadows on the walls twisted and writhed, responding to Draven's anger.

"That's not how things work here," Elaria insisted, even though part of her wanted him to do exactly what he promised. "If you start killing nobles, it will cause war. Everything will fall apart."

"I don't care."

"Well, I do!" She grabbed his arm, and the shadows immediately calmed at her touch. "Listen to me. We need to be smart about this. We need proof of who's plotting against me, and we need to expose them properly. Otherwise, you'll just look like the monster everyone thinks you are."

Draven stared at her for a long moment. Then, surprisingly, he laughed. It was a rough, unused sound, like he'd forgotten how.

"You're either very brave or completely insane," he said. "Someone just plotted to murder you, and you're worried about court politics?"

"Court politics are how people kill you here. No blood, no witnesses, just poison and accidents and convenient falls." Elaria sank onto her bed. "At least when you kill someone, they see it coming."

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"Maybe." She looked up at him. "How did you get here so fast? And how did you know I was in danger?"

Draven sat beside her, careful to leave space between them. "The bond. The mark on your wrist connects us. When you're afraid or in pain, I feel it." He held up his own hand, showing matching silver marks that hadn't been there before. "It works both ways now."

Elaria touched the marks on her wrist. They were warm under her fingers. "So you can always find me?"

"Always. And I can move through shadows. It's faster than riding, though it takes a lot of energy." He looked tired suddenly, the glow in his eyes dimming. "I had to stop three times on the way here because I almost passed out."

"You shouldn't have pushed yourself so hard."

"You were in danger."

Something in his voice made Elaria's chest tighten. "We barely know each other."

"I know." Draven looked away. "But you're mine to protect now. That's what the mark means. Anyone who tries to hurt you is declaring war on me."

"I'm not a possession."

"I didn't mean it like that." He ran a hand through his dark hair, frustrated. "I'm not good with words. What I mean is... I chose you. In the garden, when you chose me back, something changed. The shadows recognize you as part of me. And I won't let anyone take you away."

Before Elaria could respond, a soft knock came at the door.

"Princess?" Martha's voice. "I've brought dinner."

Draven moved instantly, melting back into the shadows in the corner. To anyone else, he would be invisible. But Elaria could still see him, a dark outline against darker darkness.

She opened the door. Martha wheeled in a cart with covered dishes. The old woman's eyes went straight to the corner where Draven hid, and a small smile crossed her face.

"I took the liberty of bringing extra," she said pointedly. "In case you were... hungrier than usual."

"You knew he was here?"

"Child, I've been touched by shadow magic for forty years. I can feel him in the room like a cold breeze." Martha began uncovering dishes. "Now, I tested all of this myself before bringing it. It's safe."

Draven emerged from the shadows, and Martha didn't even flinch. She simply nodded to him like he was any other dinner guest.

"Prince Draven. I wondered when you'd arrive."

"You're not surprised?" Elaria asked.

"A man who can travel through shadows and is bonded to you? Of course he'd come when you were threatened." Martha handed them both plates. "Now eat. Both of you. You'll need your strength."

They ate in silence for a few minutes. Elaria was hungrier than she'd realized. The food was simple but good—roasted chicken, bread, cheese, fruit.

"Tell me about who you heard," Draven said between bites. "Their voices. What they said exactly."

Elaria repeated the conversation. Draven's jaw tightened when she got to the part about making it look like an accident.

"Lord Marek," he said when she finished. "I remember him. He was at the betrothal ceremony. Older man, gray beard, stands close to your father."

"Yes. But he wasn't the one who suggested killing me. That was someone else. Someone I didn't recognize."

Martha poured them water from a pitcher. "There's a faction in the court that's been against the Northern alliance from the start. They believe King Zarek is making a mistake binding our kingdom to yours." She looked at Draven. "No offense, Prince, but your reputation frightens people."

"I know what I am," Draven said flatly.

"Yes, but do they? Or do they just know the stories?" Martha sat down across from them. "I think it's time you both understood what you're really facing. This isn't just about stopping a wedding. This is about power."

"Isn't everything?" Elaria muttered.

"Your father wants the Northern army," Martha continued. "But there are nobles who prefer the old alliances. They have trade agreements with the Eastern Cities, marriage ties with the Southern Kingdoms. An alliance with the North disrupts everything they've built. They'll lose money, influence, possibly their titles."

"So they want me dead," Elaria said.

"They want the marriage to fail without it looking like their fault. If you die, it's a tragedy, not treason. Your father mourns but can't hold anyone responsible. The alliance crumbles, and things go back to how they were."

Draven stood abruptly, shadows swirling around him. "Then we don't give them the chance. We move up the wedding. Tomorrow."

"Impossible," Elaria said. "Nothing is prepared. The guests haven't even—"

"I don't care about guests. I care about keeping you alive." He turned to face her, his amber eyes intense. "The longer we wait, the more chances they have to try something. But if you're my wife, under Northern law, you're untouchable. Anyone who harms you would have to answer to me and the full might of the Northern Territories."