A Kiss of Shadow (Court of Starlight and Darkness Book 2) by Linsey Hall

Author:Linsey Hall [Hall, Linsey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bonnie Doon Press
Published: 2022-06-16T16:00:00+00:00

11

Sia

* * *

Aches shot through my body, a dull tearing sensation that tugged at my muscles. I drew in a shuddering breath, trying to rise.

I couldn’t. Something gripped me tightly, keeping me bound.

Groggily, I opened my eyes.

The sight of Lore’s chin, lips, and cheekbones filled my vision.

He was carrying me, his strong arms cradling me against his chest. His beautiful face was set in lines of fear and concern, brow creased and lips tight.

“Lore?” I croaked.

“Sia.” His gaze flashed down to mine, fear turning to relief. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah.” I winced. “Mostly. What happened?”

“You collapsed.”

“Right.” I remembered now—vaguely. I’d just killed the bastard who’d come after me. When he’d grabbed me, I’d felt the most horrible sensation. Like he was trying to pull the magic right out of my body.

He’d almost succeeded, too.

I shivered at the memory.

“We have an audience up ahead.” Meria’s voice sounded from nearby. “Looks like every single person from the train is standing on the tracks and waiting to see who comes back alive.”

I craned my neck to see Meria. She and Eve walked alongside Lore, with Dain on the far end.

Relief rushed through me.

Everyone I cared about was all right.

“What about the rest of your guards?” I asked. “Are they okay?”

“Wounds, but no deaths.” Lore’s gaze was on the train we were nearing.

It had stopped on the tracks, the last three cars missing.

“Was anyone else lost in the landslide?” I asked.

“You three were the only ones in those cars.”

“Not a coincidence,” Eve growled.

I had to agree with her. I looked toward the figures standing on the tracks and wondered which of them was responsible. There were about two dozen fae—representatives of every court, just like Meria had said.

Curiosity filled their gazes as they watched us approach. Did any look disappointed to see us? My gaze went first to the Irish fae, but they had no expression. No one did, except for the Queen of the Mountain Fae. She looked worried.

Concern for me, or concern for her plan gone wrong?

The first, I thought. I still didn’t doubt her when she said she was on my side.

We neared the group, and they all looked to Lore, waiting to hear what he would say.

“We’ll continue with the journey.” He didn’t stop to speak to anyone as he strode by, carrying me into the train and toward our compartment.

I could hear the bustle of people boarding, but my attention was only on Lore. He held me like I was a priceless glass vase. But I could sense tension in his arms.

Interesting.

“You’re worried for me,” I mused.

“Of course I was. Am.”

“And not just because you need me to defeat the witch with the deathly magic.”

His lips tightened, and he said nothing. We’d reached his train compartment, and he pushed open the door and laid me gently on the bed. His gaze ran over me, brow still creased with concern. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine. A little weak, but fine.”

He nodded, straightening. Tension vibrated around him, and he looked like he didn’t know what to do with himself.

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