Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 156210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Luke
Ihave no doubt whatsoever that Kyran will say yes, but seeing his eyes go all glossy with emotion still gives me a thrill.
“Of course I will. I would love to,” he adds with more vigor, and as I slide the ring onto his finger, he eyes it with his mouth open. “How unusual! Where did you get it?”
It fits perfectly. Of course. Because Reiner knows the size of Kyran’s every finger. I get up and hug him with a smile. “I made it with Reiner’s help. I wanted to give you something special, and in my world, we don’t just give engagement rings, but exchange them at the marriage ceremony too. It’s made out of the antler of the Stag of Sunrise. I wanted you to look at it and remember how grateful I am for what you gave me that day.” After the stag’s death, the vibrant golden sheen of its antlers turned into a matted dark gold, but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful.
The midnight blue roses used in the ceremony we’re about to perform grow so close I don’t need to move to pick one off the bush. I manage to hold it between the thorns, and it breaks off easily. Kyran leads me to the end of the aisle where, under the dome of glass and violet leaves stands a stone altar with dark green moss growing all over the surface at the top. There’s vials and bottles on a cupboard nearby, along with silver chalices, bowls, and other paraphernalia, but for now it stands empty, waiting for our ceremony to begin. I remember Kyran telling me something about feeding a spider our hair, and I really hope we don’t have to.
“I know it’s just symbolic, but I want to do it right,” I say when I see the question in his eyes. “What do we need to do now? Just say my vow?”
His smile is joyful, as if the spectacular catastrophe at the ball thrown to celebrate our union is forgotten. But darkness seeps back into his eyes, and he grabs the collar on his neck, yanking on it so hard I fear he might do some damage to his upper spine.
“No. No, no, no…this cursed thing! For the ceremony to work I need to envelop us both in shadow, and I can’t, I—” He breaks off, just as distraught as he was when a single slash through his shirt revealed the truth about him.
I’d do anything to ease his pain. After a lifetime on a leash, this must be excruciating to him. But then I remember I’m not in the warded tower anymore. I grab his hand. “You gave me the stag’s heart and the gift of shadowcraft, remember? Can I… envelop us in my shadow?”
The absolute grief of his expression eases, turning into hope as he squeezes my hand and nods. Oh, how I love being the sun to his darkness.
“I love you, Luke Moor. I won’t ever stop,” he breathes, plucking the flower from my hand. The rain has eased, and the red glow of the Blood Moon seeps through the glass roof, as if it wants to bless us.
My heart is pounding so fast when I look into his handsome face and cover us in the thin veil of shadow. It’s immaterial yet somehow makes this moment feel more intimate as it hides us from the world.
Kyran squeezes the rose, and it pains me to see blood drip from his clenched fist, but I don’t stop him. I know this is what he wants to do. “My flesh will be your shield. My blood is yours to drink if you are thirsty. I shall perish before I let anything harm you. This I vow under the Blood Moon. I am yours for as long as our hearts beat.”
I put my hand over his, feeling strangely small yet oh so safe. “I love you, Kyran Nightweed, Crown Prince of the Nocturne Court, Ruler of the Shadowild, Protector of the Nightmare Realm, and Knight of Grief Ocean.” Yes, I’ve learned all his titles by heart, and I can’t wait to add Lord to that list. “I am yours. Body, soul, and shadow. You will never be alone again, and you will always have my support. Whatever you choose, I will follow.”
Kyran nods, swallowing as he leans down and kisses me. His blood smells borderline sweet, and as we connect, embracing in the petals of my shadow, warmth rushes under my skin, and then further, until I can almost sense Kyran’s flesh without the need to touch it.
It’s so beautiful.
I gasp when I sense the thread of connection between us grow thicker. I don’t just hear his heartbeat, I feel it—in the touch of our lips, in our entwining fingers. My toes curl from the tickle when a wisp of shadow slides over them like a happy snake. My shadow isn’t sentient, but like a moth that knows it needs to fly toward light. It knows it now belongs to both me and Kyran.