“Yes,” he says but I know he’s lying by the way he smirks at me. “Is this beast, Heartbreak, just a legend? A metaphor?”
“Oh no, it’s very real,” Reiner says as he fastens the chains behind Luke’s back. “Legend says Heartbreak used to be an elf who transformed into a monster through the grief of losing his child, but it’s been so long nobody can tell how true that story is.”
“You might have felt the walls shaking. That’s a sign that Heartbreak will soon come to our shores,” I add.
Luke’s eyes widen. “What? Did you just say I’m supposed to fight some beast with you?” He points to himself. “Do I look like I can take on more than a cat in combat?”
Reiner shushes him as if Luke were a kitten. “It’s just a metaphor. You won’t be the one doing the actual fighting. But by letting His Highness use your shadow, you will contribute to pushing the monster back.”
“That’s how the Nightweeds became the protectors of the Realm,” I add, finishing my wine. “This place used to be a penal colony. The prisoners were sacrificed to Heartbreak, to appease the beast. My ancestor was banished here and tasked with the position of warden, but fate had so much more in storefor him. For our whole bloodline.
“On one of his walks, Larkin saw a beautiful human woman drowning in the River of Souls. He couldn’t bring himself to let her die and risked his life to pull her out of the waters. Her shadow was magnificent. Fueled by the sun, it was more powerful than any Larkin had ever seen. When Heartbreak came, he used his Companion’s shadow to pierce dozens of the beast’s many hearts, and no lives were lost that time. He used the very same sword I now carry, the Gloomdancer. A millennium has passed, and the Lords of the Nocturne Court have been defending their people and the Realm from the monster. And now, I shall take my rightful place with you at my side,” I finish, offering Luke a smile, because I’m so proud to have him here.
A part of me regrets that we won’t get to court properly, but what could possibly stop me from introducing him to my people and showing him around once we’re already bound? I bedded him before the wedding too, so tradition be damned.
Nothing is yet lost.
Luke smiles back shyly. If Reiner wasn’t here, busy adorning Luke’s fingers with more rings, I would gladly take him to bed again. I never knew just how much I needed someone of my own, but now that he’s here, I’m angry I’ve waited so long.
“Is it dangerous when Heartbreak comes?” he asks, but a knock on the door interrupts us.
I exhale but pin my gaze to the entrance and invite in the pesky visitor. When Tristan strides in, still wearing Luke’s ugly old cap, I open my mouth to dismiss him, but he speaks up before I can get a word in.
“I’m sorry, cousin, but you are needed. It’s an urgent matter.”
“What can be more important than the wellbeing of my promised on the day of our wedding?” I ask, souring, but Tristan steps closer.
“I must insist. There’s been a sighting of despairs close to the shore. But there’s also the matter of the Goldweeds—”
Which worries me way more than yet another sign of Heartbreak approaching our shores soon.
The main branch of my family, the one that so far has always held the title of the Lord, is called Nightweeds. The one Tristan belongs to are the Bloodweeds and then there’s the bane of my existence, the Goldweeds.
They’re all part of the royal family, and they support the fight against Heartbreak, but as long as I’m alive, they have no right to the throne.
Unless, of course, one of them finds out I’m not the prince but his secret twin. If that happens before I wed my Dark Companion, each of my cousins, princes and princesses could have a claim to the title of Lord or Lordess.
Hence, no time for courting when the balance of power hangs by a thread.
The Goldweeds have been meddlesome for as long as I can remember, always trying to influence my late father, always trying to outshine Kyranis in front of his people.
And now, even on my wedding day, Tristan brings me news I don’t want to hear.
“What are they complaining about this time? The seating plan at the celebration?” I snap in frustration.
“Sylvan requests for you to be present during the testing of sea salt,” Tristan shakes his head, but his gaze trails over my shoulder, to Luke. Suddenly, I want to scratch Tristan’s golden eyes out, even though he is only doing his duty.
Maybe I should choke all the Goldweeds with my shadow instead and make it look like a despair attack? Heartbreak’s spawn aren’t that much of a challenge on their own, but being surprised by a herd can have deadly consequences. While my cousins are all gifted shadow wielders, their deaths wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility. I could deal with the gossip once I ascend my throne. Then again, their parents could always have more children—
“I’ll take care of everything, Your Highness,” Reiner says, as if he really thinks he’s being helpful.
“My hat,” Luke says, pointing Tristan’s way.
Tristan’s smile widens, and the kohl lining his eyes can’t dim their glow. “May I keep it?”
“You don’t need to give him anything,” I say, because the last thing I want is to part my promised from his precious possessions. Even those as ugly as this hat.
Luke shakes his head. “You can keep it.”
