Chapter 5 Cruel and ruthless

I have screamed myself hoarse ever since my eyes fall on the king of darkness, however there is no one else out here. We're not close enough to any Mithran village for anyone to come to my aid. All of my soldiers and handmaidens are gone, and it might still be a few days before Ayden realizes my entourage is late for our wedding.

Now we moved in silence with nothing but the sound of hooves on dirt between us. Owls hooted in the distance and every so often some creature could be heard shuffling too close for comfort along the edges of the woods.

Something about the ominous and oppressive presence around the shadow king and his dark horse seemed to keep more of those night creatures like the ghoulcat at bay. But I never doubted for a moment that they were there.

It seemed sheer force of will was the only thing keeping my worn-out feet moving. Every part of my body was screaming in agony, each step aching more than the last.

"Ah!" I cried out as something jutting out in the road caused me to stumble and fall. My hands were bound, and I wasn't able to brace my fall causing my elbow to crack on the ground and my ankle to twist.

Disoriented and drained, stars flashed behind my eyes with the new pain that was flooding my body. I barely registered the crunch of his boots on the road until I saw them in front of my face.

"Get up," he commanded. I lifted my head from the dirt to see the king crouched before me lying pitifully on soil. "I'm going to drag you through the mud if you don't get up."

"Drag me then, I don't care." Tears streamed down my face, but it was pure rage in my voice. "It doesn't matter anymore!"

Rage contorted my face into the most menacing glare I could muster, meeting those cold amber eyes that gave nothing in return.

"Promise not to scream anymore, and I'll untie you." I had to blink several times from my surprise at his offer. "Will you get up now?"

But I was hesitating as I stared back at the king of shadows and swallowed hard.

"You'll never outrun me, so don't even think of trying."

"I don't think. ... I can....," I stuttered before looking back to my now aching ankle. "My foot twisted." I added.

I heard his huff through his helmet before he rose again. Not a moment later he was grabbing me and hoisting me up into his arms and my breath left me a rush from the shock. Now I was cradled in his arms while he carried me back to the horse's saddle.

"Will you promise?" he asked again. With a swallow I nodded my head, keeping my eyes lowered and away from his penetrating gaze that was burning holes into me. This man was dangerous, and I hated feeling so vulnerable in his arms.

He plopped me into the front of the saddle, and I hit the leather with an oof. I looked over the sides of the horse and balked at how far up I was sitting now. We didn't have steads of this caliber back home.

A chill wound up my spine the instant the king settled himself into the saddle at my back. We were now pressed together, and the hard-black metal of his armor was a haunting reminder behind me of who I was in the presence of shadow king. I couldn't help but to hold my breath as he kicked the beast into motion again. But, as promised, he slipped a small knife between my wrists and sliced the rope.

"You better hold on. I won't be going slow anymore for your sake." That gruff voice warmed in a way that made me wholly aware of myself pressed against him and pursed my lips. At the same instant I nearly had to bite my tongue as he urged the horse that he called Abaddon into a faster trot.

"Little flower," the king started, "I know you're of the Solen family, but are you one of the kings brood? Rumor reaches us that Helios has a harem of wives and begets nothing but daughters on them year-round." He sounded bored as he talked about my family. It honestly enraged me.

"You know nothing about my family!"

"Ah, so you are of the Mithran king's brood and not a distant relative lucky enough to get the family crest." He shifted on the horse behind me and it caused goosebumps to rise along my flesh. "Well then, princess, it's a pleasure to meet you."

A lump formed in my throat and my heart sped up impossibly faster at the absolute salacious way he said that.

"So, which princess are you?" He urged but a cold sweat had returned to my brow. What did he need my name for?

"Adora Solen," I retorted quickly.

"Lovely name for a lovely little flower." His harsh chuckle had my nerves on edge.

"What do you need my name for? Are you capturing me for ransom or to use me against my kingdom?" I felt emboldened to ask despite seeing the blood-stained gauntlets holding the reins in front of me. But he remained silent for far longer than I would expect.

After a dejected sigh he finally answered, "I'm not sure yet." But I noticed he gripped the reins harder. "I'll assume you know exactly who I am then?"

"Of course. With that ridiculous crown on your helmet. I've heard enough about you." He laughed at my retort and I saw red. "What is filth like you doing in Mithran lands anyways?"

"It wouldn't be very smart of me to reveal that information to the enemy, would it?"

"I don't imagine you're very smart at all. You and your men attacked an entourage from Galad with no reason!" I seethed, turning my head to the side to glare at him.

"And we are in the midst of war, Adora. I owe you no explanation for my actions. Especially when you are my enemy." The bite at the end of his words made me waver.

It made me feel sick to think about it, but he was right that we were in war. We were members of the ruling families on opposite sides. If either of us got the chance to kill the other, we would be within our rights to do so.

My eyes never wavered as I kept them directly on his and it caught my attention when his pupils dilated a fraction. "Kill me then and be done with it."

"Daring me, are you? What a brave little flower you are," the king rumbled. But something about that interaction had red creeping to my cheeks and I whipped my head back to the front to stare into the darkness.

We fell into silence but the energy around us was thick enough and a knife would have had a difficult time cutting through that tension. Despite that, I was so drained, and the sway of the horse was nearly rocking me to sleep. It became a fight to stay upright and continue to keep slumber at bay.

When the king broke through the silence, I was nearly relieved. "I'm exhausted and need to rest. If you care to sleep without causing me any problems I'd be delighted."

Merely nodding my head in agreement was the most I could muster as tired as I was. After being awake for too long, running for my life, and twisting my ankle I was ready to pass out in the dirt if I had to.

The chill of the night was biting my skin and it occurred to me I had no cloak or warm clothes to help me the further north we went, and I might need those to fight the cold. That was if I even lived long enough to make it to any sort of destination.

"There's a river at the border, and we're close. We can stop for the remainder of the night to rest." And that was the end of any conversation while silence blanketed us again.

But questions were still burning in my mind. Why was Caliban Mor'gen in my lands with his soldiers? Why had they attacked us? Had it truly been just because he could? Was he really as bloodthirsty as the rumors said?

Father didn't feel the need to share politics or war talk with me, so most of my knowledge about the king of shadow elves at my back wasn't learned firsthand. I heard he was cruel and ruthless in battle. Unlike my father, he actually led his men into war. Most likely on this very shadow beast we rode.

At any moment he could decide to kill me, and everything I knew about him wouldn't make it a surprise. What did shock me was that after he had been involved in killing my people, I had been kept alive.

Taken as a captive, yes, but still alive. And as tired as I was my mind was racing with terrifying possibilities. Captive now, but maybe dead later when whatever purpose he had for me was served.

The question in my head was, What is he going to do to me as he is still keeping me alive?