Shadows Entwined (Shadows Descent #3)

43. Thorne

43

THORNE

I wake at dusk, tense with resignation and a sense of foreboding I’m trying not to indulge. Violet is curled against my side, her hair a tangled mess across the pillow. I take a moment to memorise her peaceful face, hoping this trip is short so I can get back to her.

Carefully, I extract myself from her embrace, trying not to wake her. As I dress quietly in the twilight, I hear a soft rustle behind me.

“Leaving without saying goodbye?” Violet’s sleepy voice reaches me.

I turn to find her propped up on one elbow, her eyes sharp with concern.

“I didn’t want to wake you,” I admit, sitting on the edge of the bed.

She reaches for my hand, intertwining our fingers. “I wouldn’t have forgiven you if you’d left without waking me.”

I bring her hand to my lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “I know. I’m sorry.”

Violet sits up fully, the sheet falling away to reveal her naked body. Even now, on the brink of a dangerous mission, the sight of her takes my breath away.

“Are you sure about this?” she asks, her voice small.

I nod firmly. “It’s the only way, Vi. I need to do this.”

She pulls me into a fierce hug, her body warm against mine. “Promise me you’ll be careful,” she whispers against my neck.

I hold Violet tightly, breathing in her scent. “I promise,” I murmur into her hair. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

She pulls back, her blue eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “You better be. Or I’ll come after you myself.”

I chuckle at that. “I don’t doubt it for a second. In fact, would it be bad of me to say I would love to see you take on my dad’s court?”

Violet cups my face in her hands, her gaze intense as she smiles. “No, but I’d rather do this the easy way for a change. I love you, Thorne. Come back to me.”

“I hear you loud and clear. I love you too,” I whisper, leaning in to capture her lips in a deep, passionate kiss.

When we finally part, both breathless, I rest my forehead against hers. “I have to go,” I say reluctantly.

She nods, releasing me. “Go. Be safe.”

With a final kiss, I force myself to stand and gather my things. At the door, I turn back for one last look. Violet sits in the bed, the sheet pooled around her waist, her violet hair tousled from sleep. She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

“I’ll see you soon,” I promise, then slip out the door before I decide to stay and deal with the consequences of that action later. But I’ve never been good at sitting around waiting for the axe to drop. I’m better at being proactive and getting things done.

At this hour, the hallways of MistHallow are fairly quiet. My footsteps echo as I make my way to the entrance. Outside, the sky is just beginning to darken, revealing the first hints of a cold winter night.

I take a deep breath of the cool evening air, steeling myself for what’s to come. My shadow magick, a familiar and comforting presence, envelops me like a cloak as I leave the academy grounds.

Once I’m past the wards, I close my eyes and concentrate. The darkness around me deepens and swirls, responding to my will. With a sharp twist of power, I tear open a portal to the Dark Fae Kingdom.

The transition is smooth as silk. One moment, I’m standing on solid ground, and the next, I’m falling through inky blackness. I land gracefully in a moonlit forest clearing, the air heavy with magick and the scent of night-blooming flowers.

Home. Or at least what used to be home.

I straighten my clothes and run a hand through my hair, adopting the aloof mask expected of a Dark Fae noble. This is business and I need to look the part.

The path to my family’s estate is burned into my memory. As I walk, fireflies dance around me, their soft glow a crisp difference from the oppressive darkness of the forest. In the distance, I can see the towering spires of my father’s small palace, gleaming like polished obsidian in the moonlight. The enormous King’s Palace stands in the distance, an inky blot against the dark sky.

Guards snap to attention as I approach the gates. They nod with recognition, but they say nothing as they hurry to open the way for me.

Striding through with barely a glance in their direction, I make my way to the ornate double doors and fling them open a little dramatically, even for my taste.

When I enter, the grand entrance hall is empty. My footsteps echo off the polished black marble floors as I make my way to my father’s office, knowing he’ll be there at this hour.

I don’t bother knocking. I push open the door and step inside.

Dad looks up from his desk, his ice-blue eyes widening in surprise before narrowing with suspicion. “Thorne,” he says, his voice cool. “This is unexpected after the way we left things.”

“Dad,” I reply with a slight nod. “We need to talk.”

He leans back in his chair, studying me. “About what, exactly?”

“I’m here to formally renounce my title and position within the Dark Fae Storm court.”

For a moment, there’s only silence. Then my father laughs, a harsh, bitter sound. “You can’t be serious.”

“I’m entirely serious,” I say, meeting his gaze steadily. “I’m not asking for permission. I’m informing you of my decision.”

My father’s face darkens with anger. He stands slowly, his power flaring around him like a storm cloud. “You think you can just waltz in here and throw away centuries of tradition? Your birthright? Your duty to our people?”

I stand my ground, unflinching. “It’s not my birthright or my duty anymore. I choose my own path now.”

“This is about that vampire girl, isn’t it?” he sneers. “You’d throw everything away for some fleeting infatuation?”

“Violet is part of it,” I admit. “But this is about me. Who I want to be. The life I want to live.”

My father’s eyes flash dangerously. “You ungrateful child. After everything we’ve given you?—”

“Given me?” I interrupt, my own anger rising. “You’ve given me nothing but expectations and obligations. I never asked for any of it.”

He slams his hand on the desk, making the items on it rattle. “You have responsibilities, Thorne! A role to play in our society!”

“Not anymore,” I say firmly. “I’m done playing by your rules.”

“You think it’s that simple? That you can just walk away?”

I let my power flare, darkness swirling around me. “Yes, I do. And I am.”

For a long moment, we stare each other down, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. I know what’s coming before the words even come out of his mouth, and I had hoped this would be the case. “I disown you. You are no longer my son and no longer a noble of this court. You are trespassing. Guards!”

Figured he’d do this, but it just makes it easier to walk away . I coil my magick, and I’m ready to fight my way out of here, fight my way back to Violet and do whatever the hell it is I’m meant to do next as my own person. The palace guards storm in and surround me. They have me heavily outnumbered, but I won’t give them an easy fight.

One of them lunges, his sword drawn. I sidestep him easily, my hand shooting out to snatch the weapon from his grasp.

With a flick of my wrist, I disarm the rest of the guards and send them crashing into the walls. They’re no match for me, not with my god-like shadow magick at full power. Maybe I’m showing off a bit as well for dear old Dad. But he needs to see that I’ll be just fine without him and his precious court.

He watches, his eyes burning with rage, but he doesn’t make a move on me. He knows he won’t defeat me. Not after last time.

“You’re a fool, Thorne,” he snarls. “You’ll regret this.”

I smile coldly. “Perhaps,” I say. “But it’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

With that, I turn on my heel and walk out of the room, leaving my father and his guards behind.

The night is suddenly much colder, and the wind is biting, but I feel alive. I’m no longer obligated to anyone but myself and Violet. I am free.

The journey back through my portal feels more liberating than ever before. Without any ties binding me to my oppressive lineage, now severed by choice rather than circumstance, this freedom tastes all too sweet. The MistHallow Academy grounds are lit up now against the dark sky, transforming everything under its cloak and revealing far more than what meets the eye alone. It is here, somewhere within these hallowed haunts, and soon beyond them altogether, where I will seek something greater than I can’t fully comprehend yet.

I stride back onto the MistHallow grounds, feeling lighter than I ever have. The weight of expectation and duty has been lifted, replaced by a heady sense of freedom. As I make my way to my room to get ready for the night ahead, filled with normal student activities, I smile.