The King's Shadow: Magiford Supernatural City (Gate of Myth and Power Book 2) by K. M. Shea

Author:K. M. Shea [Shea, K. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-01-12T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Noctus

The mantel clock nestled onto one of my bookshelves struck the hour—six o’clock in the evening.

I looked up from the pile of my paperwork and stood. It’s time to leave, or I’ll be late.

I was meeting with the representatives of the city tiers tonight. Officially it was to give them time to air any grievances, but my people were so terrified of me they never dared complain, so it usually became a session of me prying words out of the representatives who only babbled positive things.

I shrugged my black suitcoat over my gray button up shirt as I weaved around the furniture that cluttered my office. When I passed by the couch I slowed down, noticing my utility vest—which Chloe had burrowed in before I’d healed her—was still there.

I’ll put it away when I get back.

I tilted my head from one side to the other as I tried to catch sight of any stain on the newly cleaned couch.

It looked fine, though staring at it made me want to light it on fire.

Which irritates me more: the couch bothering me because Chloe bled all over it and thinking of that puts me in a foul mood, or knowing that Aristide was right about me hating it?

Regardless, the couch was getting dumped, and I didn’t want one of its identical replacements. We’d have to get something entirely new.

Now I’m holding grudges against furniture. Fantastic. I’ve been alive so long that I’m no longer maturing, I’m regressing into a juvenile state.

Sensing my weakness, the wild magic in the air hummed, surrounding me in an aggressive chorus.

I shook my head as I headed for the door, tugging the sleeves of my suitcoat down—they’d bunched awkwardly over the metal cuffs that cut off my magic. “Whatever it is you want, the answer is no.”

The wild magic didn’t have the decency to quiet itself. Instead, the musical notes followed me out of my study and down the hallway.

I walked past the central staircase, heading for one of the back doors to the city that would allow a less conspicuous entry than the giant double doors. When I heard laughter float from the short hallway that led to the kitchens, I paused.

That’s Chloe.

She didn’t laugh often—a side effect of near constant anxiety.

Aristide’s low voice was barely audible before it spiked louder, nearly covering Ker’s yapping cackles.

For a moment I considered canceling the meeting and going to the kitchens.

But while I never intended to be king, I was. With that came the duties of keeping order. Besides, when Chloe spoke again, the wild magic around me once again crooned its happiness. That alone was enough to prod me into walking on.

I might have bound Chloe to me because I’m an idiot who was too distracted by magic finally speaking to me again that I let it cloud all logic and reason, but I refuse to let it use me for whatever other plans it has for Chloe.

I was certain if Chloe knew magic was taking an interest in her, her heart would explode in fright, but it wasn’t that surprising.

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