All the Sacrifice of Shadows (Starstorm #2)

Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

T he dining hall of House Celestine was alive with chatter and soft laughter, except for the moment when Creslyn entered the room on Drake’s arm.

Stilted, painful silence befell the space.

Her family was seated at the long, oval table, and every pair of eyes flicked to her. Ariesian was positioned at the head of the table, elbows propped on its smooth surface, fingers interlaced together. A scowl of disapproval marred his brow. Their mother, Trysta, was right beside him, and though she offered a tight-lipped smile, it didn’t quite meet her eyes. Her expression was one of calm poise. Creslyn had been absent from Aeramere for less than a month, and her mother had seemed to age greatly in those fleeting weeks. The lines around her eyes were deeper and the skin beneath them was discolored, as though she’d been worn by exhaustion. Strange, considering Trysta never seemed to tire.

Sitting next to Trysta, however, was a new face. Well, not entirely new. Creslyn had known Narissa Seaborne for a number of years, though it was more than a little shocking to see her as an invited guest, and seated right by Solarius, no less. As far as Creslyn knew, and could remember, Sol and Narissa absolutely despised one another. Caelian beamed from her place beside Solarius, and across from them were Sarelle, Novalise, and Lord Asher Firebane. Creslyn was even more surprised to find that Kjeld had apparently joined them as well. She didn’t realize Drake’s general had made the trip, but she was more than pleased to have him accompany them.

Only her other two brothers, Tovian and Nyxian, were missing. She supposed they were both still off sailing on some seafaring adventure with the High Prince from Faeven.

Creslyn stepped forward and Kjeld stood immediately, bowing slightly. Asher did the same, followed by a disgruntled Solarius, and a fuming Ariesian. Neither of her brothers smiled upon her, instead their frosty glares were pinpointed on Drake. If she could pluck the invisible daggers they were throwing at him out of the air, she would do so. The tension between the lot was practically suffocating.

Drake led her to the opposite end of the table from Ariesian and pulled out the chair for her. She sat next to Novalise, while Drake took the empty seat beside his general. Servants filed into the dining hall, filling the table with a spread of platters, and the delectable scents flowing through the room caused Creslyn’s stomach to grumble. She couldn’t remember the last time she ate, she was practically famished. There were dishes overflowing with spiced meat and stewed vegetables, bowls of fruit and baskets of freshly baked rolls coated in garlic and butter. More importantly, however, was the tiered tray showcasing an assortment of desserts. Including Creslyn’s favorite, star-shaped chocolates filled with popping candies that crackled across her tongue.

Gradually, everyone began filling their plates, but hostility hung in the air like the humidity from summer’s hottest day. Sticky and positively miserable.

Refusing to suffer through more menacing stares and uncomfortable silence, Creslyn plucked her glass of starberry wine from the table and nodded toward Kjeld.

“You clean up quite nicely, general.” She smiled at him from over the rim of her glass. Half of his rustic gold hair was pulled into a knot, bound by a leather strap. He wore a shirt the color of bronze that strained across his muscular frame, as though it was perhaps a bit too small, and the insignia of a dragon was carved into the collar of his leather vest. The top button was undone, revealing the swirls of inky runes crawling up his neck. “I almost didn’t recognize you without your riding leathers.”

Though his blue eyes twinkled, he shifted in the high-back chair, as though he’d never been more on edge. “You flatter me, my lady. I’m glad to see you’re back in good spirits and health.”

Creslyn caught it then, the twinge of remorse in his voice.

She shook her head, speaking softly. “None of that, general.”

“Nova,” Caelian piped up, her twin easily picking up on the need for more pleasant conversation. “You simply must tell Creslyn all about your wedding plans.”

Novalise’s face illuminated, her cheeks pinking with the blush of a proper bride. She launched into the details, gushing about how the wedding would take place at twilight beneath the stars. It would be held in the gardens of House Celestine in three days’ time, there would be floating lanterns of captured starlight, dozens of miniature cakes from Moonbeams—a darling little bakery in Celestine’s city center—and dancing until dawn broke the horizon. As Novalise described the flowers she chose, moonstar orchids with silvery purple petals that only blossomed under starlight, Creslyn couldn’t help the twinge of longing pinching between her shoulders.

Her own wedding would be nothing of the sort.

Not that she desired pretty flowers and a star-dusted ceremony, because she most certainly did not, but she couldn’t help but wonder if her wedding would possess its own kind of magic.

Eventually, conversation slowly carried on, and when there was the briefest lull, Creslyn didn’t let it settle.

She turned her attention to her second oldest brother. “Sol, I was not aware you were courting Lady Narissa.”

“Alas, sweet sister, I am not.” Solarius flashed her a hard smile, and from the head of the table, Ariesian cleared his throat. Solarius’s glare shot to him. “Lady Narissa is my betrothed .”

He spoke the word with such spite, he nearly spat it out.

“Oh.” Confusion clouded Creslyn’s mind. When she left for Brackroth, Solarius had been decidedly single, a bachelor on all counts. Though she knew Solarius and Narissa had a falling out some years ago after a rather brief courtship, she was too young at the time to make sense of it and could no longer remember why. “How lovely for you both.”

Again, Drake’s voice filled her thoughts. “Ariesian made the arrangement.”

Creslyn glanced over at him, her brows knitting together in concern. “But why? They’ve hated each other for quite some time.”

Drake shrugged, lifting his glass of wine to his lips. “ I would imagine an alliance was far more important than a squabble from their youth.”

Creslyn looked at Lady Narissa Seaborne. She was a fae of House Azurvend with sun-kissed skin and a naturally rosy blush that shimmered on the apples of her cheeks. Her golden hair fell to the middle of her back in waves twisted by the salty tang of sea air, and her eyes were a pale green, like an ocean touched by frost. She wore a gown of turquoise and the bodice was lined with delicate pink pearls. Thin gold bands were on almost every finger, including her thumbs, and a strand of crushed shells hung from her neck. With one hand wrapped around the stem of her wineglass, she looked composed, elegant, and positively raging.

The glass of water in front of her swirled, spiraling and sloshing like a small whirlpool.

Solarius snatched one of her hands, clamping it tightly. He pressed a hasty kiss to her knuckles, his silver hair with black tips falling into his face. “No tidal waves at the dinner table, Rissa love.”

The look Narissa sent her brother would have made even the most seasoned of warriors balk.

She looked absolutely cutthroat.

Drake fisted one hand in front of his mouth to disguise his chuckle.

“Creslyn, darling.” Trysta waved a hand through the air, bracelets jingling, as she dismissed her son and his furious future bride’s subdued quarrel. “How fares life in Brackroth?”

Ariesian slammed one hand onto the table, rattling the dishes.

Creslyn snatched up her wine before it spilled.

“Is that a serious question, Mother?” he demanded, his words clipped.

“It’s wonderful, really.” Creslyn sipped her wine, attempting to override her brother’s anger.

“Aside from the fact that you almost died ?” Solarius drawled, his silver gaze zeroed in on her before flicking with contempt in Drake’s direction.

“Aside from that, yes.” She shook off his churlish demeanor. “I was rescued by Astrylys, one of Drake’s dragons. Quite exciting, I should think, though I wish I’d been coherent enough to remember it. And Drake killed twenty-three men on my behalf.”

Deafening silence befell the room once more. So quiet, she could almost hear the sound of her own heartbeat.

“But other than the drab weather,” she continued, as though she hadn’t stunned all of them with mention of his violent tendencies, “Brackroth is fine enough.”

A beat of measured stillness passed. Then another.

“Stars above,” Novalise murmured, and Asher’s shoulders began to shake. Then he was laughing fully, shaking his head in disbelief. Novalise smacked him soundly on the back.

“I had no idea my nefarious ways were so amusing to you, kearsta.” Drake’s crooning voice reached into her mind, and she spared him a glance before pouring herself some more wine.

“On the contrary.” She swirled her glass, watching the bubbles dance. “I find your vengeful nature most provocative.”

“Is that so?”

Something cold slid around her ankle, and Creslyn startled.

“Only a shadow,” he whispered. “You’re safe.”

She wasn’t entirely certain she would have used the word safe , not when that particular shadow slinked beneath her skirts like a phantom hand coasting along her leg and over her knee…then higher still. She clutched her glass of wine, taking a rather large gulp as the shadow hovered at the apex of her thighs. It teased her skin, its touch like ice. Her chest heaved and she squirmed in her seat, but there was nowhere to go. No means of escape. Drake had her trapped, and he wasn’t even looking at her. He was speaking to Kjeld about one of the dragons.

Creslyn frowned.

He wouldn’t dare.

The shadow slid past her undergarments with ease, and she tensed, trembling against the cool touch. Heat bloomed low in her belly as it brushed across her folds before sinking into her. The sensation was both fascinating and terrifying as his power moved within her like a ribbon of velvet. Frozen, she didn’t dare move as the shadow swirled, thickening, taking on an all too familiar shape. It stroked her gently, delving deep until she was wet with need. Spasms of pleasure ricocheted through her, and though she attempted to keep her serene expression in check, her legs fell open in a silent plea for more. Drake’s shadow pulsed, throbbing, and she planted one hand on the table to keep herself steady, her nails biting into the hardwood.

“Cres?”

Creslyn’s gaze shot to her twin. She gripped the stem of her wineglass so tightly she thought it might shatter.

“Are you alright?” Caelian asked. “You seem a little tense.”

“Mm. Fine. Completely fine.” She thanked the stars her voice didn’t waver, but gods, if Drake didn’t stop teasing her soon, she would come undone right here, at the table, in front of her entire family.

Creslyn finished her wine, but it wasn’t nearly enough to take off the edge. The darkness inside her continued to build, pushing in and out, driving the coldness deeper with every icy thrust. She bit her tongue to keep from crying out, her thighs shaking as the sweet pressure reached the deepest part of her core.

She was close.

Stars above, she was so close.

“Your Highness.” Ariesian’s firm voice cut through the air, and the shadow withdrew, vanishing completely.

Creslyn swallowed her whimper of disappointment.

“My lord?” Drake replied, his tone smooth and unruffled, as though he hadn’t almost just brought her to orgasm.

Ariesian stood, adjusting his blue coat so the silver sheen glinted in the low light. “Might I have a word?”

“Of course.” Drake pushed back from the table, then he bent toward Creslyn, pressing a kiss to the tip of her pointed ear.

“I’ll finish you later, solysa ,” he murmured.

Creslyn shuddered as she watched him follow Ariesian out of the dining hall.

If the Prince of Brackroth held such command over his shadows, there was no telling how capable he was in the bedroom. And if one thing was for certain, Creslyn’s imagination never failed her. She spent the rest of dinner daydreaming of how exactly he planned on finishing her.