Page 126 of Taken By Shadows

Eryk noted my enthusiasm and extended his hand for us to make our way out.

I didn’t bother fighting the smile that stretched across my face.

The books, the intrusion to my day, the cut on my hand, all forgotten with Eryk’s help. I scrawled a note on a piece of parchment for Audrie and followed Eryk out of the library.

Chapter thirty-nine

Eryk had a private box in a circular open-air theatre. Somewhat like the council chambers, but far less austere.

The theatre felt warm and joyous in comparison to the darkness of the library or anywhere else I’d been in Viverna.

In front of us, the stage was set with painted props and wooden panelling depicting a forest scene. I’d never seen something like this on a scale so grand. The tiered seating ringed around the stage was packed with patrons eager for entertainment.

The festivities of the production in front of me had me relaxing after the uncomfortable encounter with Huxley.

“Thank you for coming to my aid. I don’t know what I’d have done if you weren’t there,” I joked as we took our seats.

He hummed in answer.

I smiled sheepishly. “This,” I said with a hand to the flurry of colours. Ribbons and banners fluttered in the gentle breeze, and music floated around us. “The day out. I needed it. A distraction.”

Eryk smiled down at me. His silver strands of hair looked distinguished in the afternoon sun. It had crossed my mind more than once about how he’d aged. But my meandering thoughts were cut off by Eryk’s interjection.

“Your eyes.” His gaze landed on my violet irises. “Your dress, it brings out the fire in them.”

My fingers felt for the teal green fabric that now seemed too close to my skin under Eryk’s scrutiny. I offered a half-hearted smile, unsure what to do with the compliment.

“And, of course,” I cleared my throat as I tried to steer the topic from me. “What you did for Kaed.” I smoothed the fine fabric of my skirts. “Saving him from the council. I don’t know how I’ll repay you for that.”

“It might surprise you to know, Lady Imogen, that your betrothed”—he said the word like it was a seed stuck in his teeth that he wanted to spit out—“came to me to offer his debt in place of yours.”

“He did what!”

Some patrons shushed me from beside us as I’d shouted.

“I told him no, of course.” Eryk kept his eyes on the players before us. He looked like he was barely registering our conversation as he feigned interest in the show.

He had turned down Kaed’s offer? Surely, a prince could offer more than I could?

“And I know what you’re thinking,” he said, leaning into me, his eyes not straying from the performance, “but I don’t want what Kaedian can offer me. I want what you can.” His voice had dipped an octave, and there was a rumble in his throat as he spoke.

“I’m …” Something pulled on my vocal cords until they plucked in staccato notes. “Not sure what I can give you,” I hedged.

“Don’t worry. It’s nothing you’ll miss once it’s given.” His smile broadened as the players danced in synchronisation.

I held my breath.

“Try not to worry about it for now. Enjoy the show. We’ve plenty of time to discuss it.” He clapped with vigour as the scene ended.

My spine felt like steel in winter as I endured the spectacle before me.

The players performed their lines. Their shapes and sounds like vapour on the wind, lost to the tumultuous roiling in my mind.

Kaed had been right. Nothing was free. I just didn’t yet know the price I’d paid.

Eryk hadn’t said anything else during the performance. Maybe I’d imagined the undercurrent of tension that laced his voice. A thread of desire that had edged his tone when he’d spoken about the debt I owed.

I wasn’t blind. Eryk had been friendly, and that rarely came without strings. I had learned that with Bray. I had handled things very badly with my childhood friend, so maybe I was just on tenterhooks about Eryk.