The Night House Read online

  “And now we get to watch them tie their cruel lives together in wedded bliss,” Taya said. She’d rather gouge her eyes out with a blunt fork, but she followed where Thane led.

  “Come on then, my trusty shadow.” Thane leaned toward her. “Let’s not delay the inevitable.”

  The horses thundered down the embankment and galloped across the field of dead grass and frost toward the House of Auroris, the sun rising against their backs. Grass, twigs and small branches snapped underfoot as they sped along, the winter meadow breeze whipping past Taya’s face.

  Their group travelled unhindered through the already open gate. The jagged end of the portcullis gleamed in the morning sunlight. If someone released the wheel holding thick metal chains that kept the gate up, they’d be crushed by solid metal spikes. What a horrible way to go.

  She dismounted with the men and handed her reins to a stable boy with skinny arms and dark bags under his eyes. She patted Sugar’s rump as the boy led the mare away. Sugar snorted and flicked her tail.

  Music drifted down from the main building along with the din of chatter and clinking glassware. The party had already started and the sun hadn’t fully risen above the horizon yet. Fucking animals. How were they functioning this early?

  “Lord Thane.” A man with a deep voice and thick fur cloak stepped down the stairs leading to the main building’s entrance. He had platinum-blond hair that curled around his ears, sharp gray eyes, and the chiseled features she now associated with Arkavian nobility.

  “Lord Aries.” Thane stepped forward and grasped the man’s forearm.

  Oh, finally one of the lords Thane said relatively nice things about. The heir to the House of Auroris looked no different than any of the other aristocracy she’d met. Instead of hair with blue undertones like Thane’s, Lord Aries’ hair had hints of sunshine, resembling dying wheat on a prairie field in autumn. The crinkles around his eyes and mouth suggested a life filled with laughter, but his centered posture and pulled-back shoulders spoke of regimented training and years of swinging a sword.

  “I’m glad you made it. I won a wager.”

  Thane scratched Hades’ cheek before another stable boy lead the stallion away. “Your mother bet against me? Again?”

  Aries nodded. “She underestimated you. Again.”

  “She never liked me.”

  “That might have something to do with our many ill-fated outings as adolescents.”

  Taya shifted her weight from foot to foot to get the blood flow going. Though she’d spent much of the last year on Sugar’s back, memorizing the varying shades of her blue roan coat through the seasons, her legs still ached after a long trip.

  “We should grab a drink and reminisce about the good old days.”

  Aries face split into a dazzling smile. “We should. For the moment, though, you should get your party settled. The festivities have started.”

  Soka groaned. Taya wasn’t the only one who hated mornings, but he had no right to complain. He didn’t have to attend half the events.

  “Is your cousin with you?” Aries smile widened and he scanned the group.

  Lokni scowled. “She arrived before us. She must be avoiding you.”

  Aries smirked at her violet-eyed companion before his attention snagged on her.

  Of course it did.

  It always did when they ran into Arkavian nobility. Though Thane avoided the “big houses,” run-ins still happened.

  “So it’s true?” Aries’ eyes widened and he turned to Thane. “I heard rumours about your shadow. I figured you made her up and that’s why you’ve avoided me.”

  “As you can see, she’s very real,” Thane replied.

  Aries nodded and dipped into a shallow bow. “Milady.”

  Lokni coughed.

  She stomped on his foot and bowed like a man. Curtseying in leather pants with a dual scabbard strapped to her back looked as ridiculous as it felt. “Lord Aries.”

  “I hope to speak with you later,” Aries said.

  “Of course.” Geez. Did all the other Arkavian nobles sound as pretentious as this guy? She thought only Julian and Lane talked like this. At least her face covering concealed her scowl.

  “Later, Thane.” Aries nodded at the other warrior. “We have much to discuss.”

  Thane dipped his chin and Aries left the same way he came.

  “Are we going to have to talk like that?” Taya stepped into the heat of Thane’s body. She’d only accompanied Thane to the lower houses and they didn’t prance around like the people here. Mainly they cowered and scurried away from their party. Or died.

  Thane leaned down, his face impossibly close. “Not in private and not around Aries. Not usually. He put on an act for our witnesses.”

  “He’s a good actor,” she whispered.

  “That’s what makes him dangerous.”

  “As dangerous as you?”

  That earned her a real smile. “Not even close.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Small Spaces, Dark Places

  Taya trailed Thane as he meandered through the crowded ballroom. The grand reception ball was the final event of a long, arduous day and it couldn’t end soon enough. Full gem-laden gowns and stylized armour meant more for show than practicality glittered under the magically-lit candle chandeliers. The chatter drowned out much of the music threading through the room from harmonizing string instruments. Taya had walked into Cinderella’s ball, except she knew damn well this wasn’t a fucking fairy tale.

  She eyed the chocolate balls on a nearby platter and her mouth watered. With most of her face covered with black fabric, popping a sweet dessert in her mouth right now was out of the question. Too bad. If she closed her eyes, she could taste the sweet cocoa exploding on her tongue and the velvety smooth flavour coating her mouth. The server and his platter of Arkavian delicacies grew more distant as she followed Thane across the room.

  Dangit. Maybe he’d circle back and she’d slip one into her pocket.

  She envied the men who got to stay in their rooms and visit the barracks, drink and tell tall-tales of their exploits to anyone who’d listen. Watching women fawn over Thane and men puff out their chests while speaking to him, all the while ignoring her, set her teeth on edge.

  Everything here was so fake. No wonder Thane avoided court.

  What she didn’t understand was what drove Thane to propose to Alexis in the first place. Didn’t he see how conniving she was? Had he fallen for all the bells and whistles of her and this place? Or had he truly fallen in love with her?

  As much as it sent a little knife through her heart, if she had to put down money, she’d bet on the latter. Thane struck her as the type of man to give everything to a relationship. When he fell, he’d fall hard. He wasn’t the type to half-ass anything or do things in parts. His love would be all consuming.

  Too bad it would never be with her.

  Jealousy continued to stab at her. She’d never be the source of his desire. He’d established that boundary well over the last year. Despite his passionate words at the beginning of her service, he’d given no indication he still felt the same way.

  While he might’ve moved on, her feelings for him had only grown. Now she’d become a quivering mess of longing and she could never let him know how much she wanted him. She’d train for him. She’d kill for him. She’d bleed and even die. But she wouldn’t fall in lust. Or love. That was the silent promise she’d made to herself almost a year ago. And that was the promise she’d broken.

  She watched a young lady with silver-white hair lean into Thane’s imposing body.

  Why did she have to fall for him? She hated herself for this weakness. Not only had she not found a way to stop the leaching or save earthens, but her year was almost up, and she’d only killed a handful of Arkavians stupid enough to attack Thane while she was near.

  “Taya, isn’t it?” Aries cut into her path and blocked her view of Thane.

  She scowled and stepped around him into a wake o
f perfumed air. Music jingled all around them.

  The Arkavian lord chuckled and followed, the candlelight dancing along his gold-embroidered court armour. “I see you take your job seriously. He won’t come to any harm here. You can speak with me.”

  She ignored him and followed Thane as he brushed off the young woman’s attention and walked away.

  Aries sighed and walked beside her. “Is it true? Are you some scandalous love child from an illicit affair, left for the wolves to raise you in the wild forest?”

  She groaned. Without a doubt, the twins helped spread that ridiculous rumour. And Adrianna.

  “Stop harassing my bodyguard.” Thane stopped to face them.

  “It got your attention, didn’t it?” Aries jerked his thumb in her direction. “You’re one of the most feared Tarkas. You don’t need her. Give her the night off like your other men.”

  Taya narrowed her eyes. This guy tried awfully hard to get her away from Thane.

  “Ah, but I want her.”

  A couple of other courtiers stopped talking and turned to watch.

  Her heart fluttered at his words. For fuck’s sake, woman. Pull your tits up and focus. Aries was up to something. She stepped to the side to get a better view of those gathering behind Thane.

  Aries frowned. “Why?”

  If only Thane let her show him why. She longed to grip the leather-bound handles of her blades.

  “You wouldn’t ask if you saw her fight,” Thane said.

  Aries perked up and leaned forward. “Maybe a demonstration then? A break from the wedding festivities for a duel? Your shadow against one of my finest?”

  Thane leaned forward. “No.”

  “You used to be more fun.”

  “We’re not here as entertainment,” Thane growled.

  Oh, no. Thane quickly approached his limit for bullshit. She stepped closer.

  “Fine, Fine.” Aries flung his arm around Thane’s shoulder. “Let’s get a drink and let Taya guard us both.”

  He steered Thane away from the dance floor and toward the far end of the room.

  Taya glanced over her shoulder and nearly stumbled. The first Arkavian lord she ever saw stood three feet away. She’d never forget his face. It was etched into her nightmares. He wore a scowl and watched them leave. His gaze settled on her shoulders and narrowed.

  Why wasn’t he dead? Wasn’t he in the sacrifice circle? How did he survive and what the hell was he looking at? She froze. Her eyes widened. Her swords tingled and burned against her back where her dual scabbard held them. The twin blades of House Raiden.

  These belonged to his brother.

  Her lungs snagged in her chest. The lord never spotted her crouched in the bushes. If he had, she would’ve joined the others in the sacrifice circle. His eyes held no recognition when they glanced at her face. Hell, only her eyes were visible, anyway. He stared at the blades. That was it. Anyone travelling through that town could’ve and would’ve picked them up. He couldn’t jump to the conclusion she’d connect him with bloody massacres.

  “Taya?” Aries held a door open.

  She winced and followed Thane through the side entrance. As soon as it clicked shut, Thane brushed Aries’ arm from his shoulders. “Why the theatrics?”

  The other man shrugged. “Why not?”

  They’d entered some dimly lit passageway with stale air. Dust motes drifted in the candlelight and their voices and the scuffle of their feet against stone echoed down into a dark abyss.

  “We’re too exposed. Should you be discussing this?” She nodded down the dark hallway and shuddered. Anyone could lurk on the other end. How much did Thane trust this guy?

  “The area is secure.” Aries lifted his chin.

  Sure, it is, Big Guy. Ever since Elliot Mansfield told her he wouldn’t share that picture with anyone, and then preceded to show the entire senior class of their high school just how good her rack looked in a balconette, she never trusted anyone on their word alone—no matter how pretty or self-assured they came across.

  “What the hell is going on?” Thane asked.

  “You tell me,” Aries said.

  “What are you talking about?” Thane hissed.

  “You brought your pet shadow as your plus one to a wedding reception. Are you trying to piss off everyone in my family?”

  Oh. That explained why he tried to get rid of her. Maybe.

  “I just watched my former lover wed my narcissistic brother because she’d rather a lifetime with his douchery than risk the gossip about me being true. I think they can forgive me this break in etiquette.”

  Aries paused and glanced at Taya. “Dismiss her. We need to talk candidly.”

  “She’s under a geas.”

  Aries nodded. Thane’s explanation apparently sufficient enough. “Are you still in love with my sister, then? She dropped you faster than a whore’s knickers.”

  “God, no. One stupid rumour and she was gone.”

  “I warned you she was vapid. She always tried to make up for a lack in power by assuming others.”

  Pot, meet Kettle.

  “I thought you just hated the idea of me banging your sister.”

  Aries’ face scrunched up. “That, too.”

  “Have you accompanied any of your family’s gathering trips to Earth?”

  Aries’ face remained scrunched. “Why the hell would I do that?”

  “So that’s a no?”

  “You know I hate reapings.”

  Well, okay. Maybe this guy wasn’t so bad after all.

  “Who in your family went?”

  “No one in my direct family. Father normally sends my cousins. Fuck knows why. Those two are useless.”

  Thane nodded. “Have you heard anything about the other families?”

  “Going to Earth?” Aries blanched. “Not really. Draco and Ramiel lost some family members to earthen savages. Raiden as well. What’s this about?”

  “I’m not sure, yet.”

  Thane knew the family involved in the reapings lost at least one soldier because he’d seen her memories. After encountering the Tarka lord in the ballroom, hale and hearty, she knew which family was caught up in this dark magic. She kept her mouth firmly shut. Thane might trust Aries, but she didn’t. She’d tell Thane her discovery when they were alone.

  Aries grumbled and jabbed the air in front of Taya with his forefinger. “Can you at least tell me about her? Everyone’s been talking about your shadow at court and your obvious avoidance of the main houses.”

  “Let them talk. Their stories will be more entertaining than the truth.”

  “Which is?”

  Footsteps padded down the hall toward them.

  “I thought this hallway was secure?” Thane asked.

  “It is.”

  “Was.” Taya unsheathed her blades. The lightning coursed up the steel and licked her skin. The high pitch whining of the energy danced along the metal and sung to the power flowing in her blood.

  Aries sucked in a breath.

  The footsteps quickened. Three men turned the corner, faces and hair covered with black cloth like hers so only their dark gazes peered out.

  Aries muttered something.

  “Just watch,” Thane said.

  The men charged.

  Taya’s magic merged with the blades and she moved, stepping, spinning, slashing, in a deadly dance of sharp edges, cutting one attacker down at a time until three bodies lay in a bloody pool at her feet.

  “Fuck,” Aries said.

  Thane elbowed him. “Now you see why I like her at my back.”

  Aries closed his mouth and visibly shook himself. “That was worthy of the Night House.”

  Of course it was. She worked hard to excel and maintain her value to the House of Jericho. She wanted to give Thane zero reasons to regret the offer he made almost a year ago.

  She knelt at the nearest body and wiped her blades with his shirt. Thane could’ve crushed all three men easily with his power. He chose to let her d
ance with her blades to show off her skill to Aries. Did he do so out of pride or as a warning?

  “Did she fuse her power with the blades?” Aries asked.

  Taya straightened. “She’s right here and she’s getting pretty tired of you talking over her.” She sheathed her swords in her back scabbard. “But yes. That’s what I did.”

  Aries whistled.

  Thane knelt down beside her and tugged off the material covering their would-be assassin’s face. Shaggy brown hair surrounded a smooth face and blank brown eyes.

  “Know him?” Aries asked.

  Thane shook his head and moved to the next body. He should’ve taken care of the attack instead of showing her off. They might’ve captured one alive and used him for information.

  “Who would want to kill both of you?” she asked.

  Aries sighed. “The easier question is to ask who doesn’t.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Double Trouble

  Back in the grand ballroom, Taya waited until Aries walked out of earshot and the din of gossip to surround them before she turned to Thane. “Trust me?”

  He raised his dark eyebrows, but nodded.

  “I’ll be back.” Without waiting for a response, she slipped from his side and wound around the milling socialites and nobility. Even with her face guard covering everything but her eyes, their perfume clung to her nose and left her throat dry.

  Adrianna stood near two Tarka men. They watched her like vultures waiting for a sign of weakness to swoop in for a piece of the prize while she recanted some story requiring a lot of hand gestures, hair flips and smiles. Her gown cascaded to the floor in beautiful, blue satin folds and the bodice hugged her curves.

  Taya smiled behind her face covering. She spent a lot of downtime hanging out with Adrianna, learning Ancient Arkavian, drinking wine and gossiping about soldiers, staff and house politics.

  “Come with me.” Taya hooked her arm with Adrianna’s and pulled her away from the men. They grumbled complaints, but she ignored them and continued tugging.

  Adrianna giggled, a bell-like sound, and spun to walk with Taya.