AERYN'S POV

My husband terrified me. His ruthless demeanor and brutal hostility radiated promises of my demise if I were to cross him. I was much too frightened to celebrate that clever pun.

"Noted," I said, attempting to be discreet as I put some distance between us. The stiff, deceased vegetation became denser as we traveled. The source of light from the moon was blocked out by the intertwining branches overhead and I wondered why they'd opted for walking through the disturbing forest instead of flying.

My head swam as my bond with Zoran weakened my body despite Armaeda's nearness. Since she was here, she couldn't grant my father permission to destroy my bond with Zoran. The relief was brief until I thought about my Champion suffering from our bond being separated over such a vast distance.

Distant shrieks echoed, spiking my fear as I searched for the Cursed demons over my shoulder. I nearly bumped into Shade as I turned back around and came to an abrupt stop to avoid touching him.

Shade raised his hood and increased his pace as a silver castle came into view, gleaming on the horizon. Four spires decorated the tops of the towers on each corner of the fortress. Each pillar was decorated with a red flag displaying the black Ravos crest of a set of swords intersecting each other in an "X" and a pair of wings behind them. 

The demons and dragons marched with growing energy as we closed in on the looming towers amid a field of dirt. More lifeless trees outlined the castle with their twisting trunks leaning toward the castle as an uncanny barrier. I rubbed my arms as goosebumps pricked my skin even though the weather was significantly warmer in the Ravos Kingdom than where I'd grown up in the wintery mountains.

I trailed behind the group, apprehension slowing my steps as we approached the Ravos Castle. Shade led his legion to the moat surrounding the structure and whistled a series of various pitches. The sound was replayed back to him by someone high in one of the towers followed by the creaking of the drawbridge as it was lowered over the gap. The demons moved aside, forming an isle between them as they all rotated to look at me.

"After you, Princess Cross," a chilling voice said at my back, hot breath tickling my ear as a talon poked my shoulder blade.

I gritted my teeth and evenly replied, "Thank you, King Kristos."

Refusing to bow under the weight of the demons' cruel stares, I lifted my chin and headed through the makeshift passage as I diverted my gaze from their insidious faces disguised by skull-like masks of bone. Shade observed the exchange with scrutiny and turned his back to me as I approached. Without waiting for me, he crossed the rickety red bridge and paused at the grouping of trees blocking the doors to the castle. Goo oozed like sap down the splintering bark and drained into the ditch.

Taking a deep breath, I investigated the trench and swallowed hard as the black substance boiled and popped, spurting droplets into the air. I aimed for an aura of nonchalance as I went over the bridge and joined the intimidating prince. With a wave of his hand, the limp trees straightened, and their branches stretched for the sky, clearing the steps leading to the red doors as more smoke exuded from his palm.

Boots clunked on the wooden boards behind me, and an armory of weapons clanged against the demons' bone armor as they passed over the bridge. The sudden realization that the Ravos Kingdom had shown up in the Nyrial Empire with an entire militia armed to the teeth with lethal weapons led me to wonder whether the wedding agreement had been as peaceful as it had seemed.

Especially since Armaeda was still captive somewhere in Ravos.

Shade heaved the doors open as his force of demons lined the palace in defensive stances. King Kristos stood in the middle of the plank of wood covering the moat and his dark eyes collided with mine through his creepy, animalistic bone mask that covered his whole face. The pointed snout was even more insidious than the hooked nose of Edge's mask. I walked in the castle before the king could witness the involuntary shudder that wracked my spine.

The grand entranceway showcased a banner with the kingdom's crest hanging from the far wall whereas each of the other walls were covered by topaz gemstones carved with intricate patterns of swirling blacks and reds. Candelabras were spaced out on a mantel encrusted with even more topaz.

We hadn't passed any mountains with the crystals that were decorating the walls, but I had to be cautious because it was evident the demons had a surplus of the stones that could make it impossible to use my power. I assumed the Insignia I'd gained from Zoran would be useless this far away from him which meant I was on my own with my mind controlling capability.

Shade turned down the corridor branching off to the right, favoring the first floor over the others accessible by the single staircase that spiraled to each level. The décor in the vestibule was minimal and quite a drastic difference from the ornate and flamboyant ambiance in the stifling Nyrial Castle.

I drifted a few strides behind the demon prince as he navigated through the labyrinth of his home until I was dizzy from keeping track of a mental map in my head. The candlelight flickered and a few candles even snuffed out as Shade walked by the small tables they were placed upon. When it felt like my legs were going to give out from overexertion and extreme fatigue, it seemed like he chose a door at random and opened it, gesturing inside.

"Your room for now," he clipped, standing back as he held it open for me.

Stepping through the entrance, I was careful not to get close to him as I inquired, "For now?"

"It is for your own protection that we are split on opposite ends of the castle," he said, red ring in his eye glowing red as he glowered at me. "Although, we will have to share a room soon to convince our fathers the marriage is legitimate and neither of us will deceive the other, inevitably reinstating the war."

"The war will continue if you keep Armaeda here any longer. How do I even know you've called back your forces from the Voltant Isles?"

The candles in the hall were put out as draft blew into the room, casting darkness over the sharp angles of Shade's face that made his eyes appear even more menacing. "Are you already assuming us to evade our stipulations of the treaty?"

"Yes, and I will continue to do so until Armaeda is returned to my father."

"I will see to it that the dragon is sent to the Nyrial Emperor. In the meantime, do not wander around the castle. Unspeakable horrors traverse the grounds and infiltrate this fortress. A shifter will be placed outside your chamber as protection from the Cursed creatures and any Ravos naïve enough to make a move for you."

"I don't need a bodyguard," I refuted, folding my arms over my chest. Self-conscious about my revealing dress, I removed the tie binding my hair at the top of my head and let thick the strands fall over my shoulders as a coverup.

"And I don't need a slain princess in my castle," he countered, letting go of the door.

Shoving it back open, I called after his retreating form, "Keep that in mind the next time you threaten to kill me."

Pausing with his back to me, his grating voice rumbled low as he retorted, "It won't be a threat next time. I do not take kindly to opposition and insolence. If I did, my entire kingdom wouldn't fear me. Just ask your friends."

I froze, dread stealing my breath as stealthily as a thief. I burst into the hall, demanding, "What are you doing to them?"

"Defy me and find out."

"Let Penn go. She doesn't deserve to be punished."

Shade slowly pivoted to face me. "The other...Draconian has been guarding her from any penance. He's aware of what will happen to him if he decides to rebel against my commands again. We could have skipped all the marriage theatrics if he hadn't let you and your partner go."

He was talking about when Bastion had warned me about the demons coming to capture me in the caves with Zoran in Garrenth. The hairs raised on the back of my neck as I trembled with anger.

"You are the most despicable, cruel demon in existence," I snapped, "You aren't going to carry through with your side of the treaty. I'm your prisoner and you're going to use me like you did with Bastion to take down my empire."

The rage gave way to fright as I connected the dots. I had to escape and alert my father. Narrowing my eyes on the wicked prince, I concentrated and directed commands at him.

Spin back around and go to the other side of the castle. Stay there for the next couple of hours and do not speak to anyone.

My hand illuminated with a bright red radiance as a debilitating crack sounded in my head. My eyelids snapped shut as an anguishing pain ignited in my skull, forcing me to my knees as large, dark spots swarmed behind my eyes.

"Ah, mind control," Shade said, sounding close by and distant at the same time. "You're too inexperienced to use the power without the high risk of frying your brain, or that of the individual you are trying to compel."

I grabbed my head in my hands and bent over, crown clattering into the wall as my forehead pressed against the carpeted floor. A splintering headache throbbed as I struggled to stay conscious.

"Well then I hope to obliterate your brain," I strained through clenched teeth.

"I thought I'd made it clear what would happen when I advised against insubordination, Glastos."

The usage of my given surname over the one we now shared did not slip under my radar. Shade didn't view our marriage as legitimate, and I opened my mouth to fire back with another response that would dig my hole even deeper when a surge of fiery agony seared my mind, taking me out with a swift swathe of blackness.

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