Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 120029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
“Oh no! I made a fake alert about a moth infestation, so we’re not bothered as we pass. But I have to say I’ve been doing more reading in the past weeks than ever before. I hope you’re not bored to death with that by now.”
I blink, because while barring people from the library is a cruel move, the reason for it is so sweet I have to remind myself that my heart is only leaping because it’s being a traitorous idiot. “I can’t imagine ever being bored of reading,” I say as Tristan leads me past the librarian's counter, into a shadowed aisle between two massive wooden shelves piled high with leather-bound volumes. “Maybe it’s different for you, because you were born in a world of magic, and you can grow wings, but for me it was only ever a dream. And reading allowed me to live it.”
“You have books about our realm?”
We pass a tall door, which must be the main entrance, and instead head for a smaller one to the side of the giant hall filled with endless bookshelves. For so many weeks I could have come down here and browsed for myself. I won’t be beating myself up about it, but I need to be bolder now that I took the plunge and left my rooms.
“Well… not exactly, but maybe some of the stories we tell in our books are inspired by what people saw in the Nightmare Realm when they accidentally ended up here? You know, like that old lady you helped back into my world. What are your novels about?” I ask, once again angry that I wasn’t curious. In fact, I’ve read nothing that wasn’t unicorn-related.
“All sort of things,” he says, but then goes a little quiet. “Honestly, I’ve not really read much. When I was a child, my mother read stories to me about knights and mysterious creatures of the sea, about rulers past and Dark Companions. Both my sister and I always found the idea of the human realm so intriguing. But while she delved deeper into her love of books, I wanted to do all these exciting things. And since I had a talent for shadow wielding, my father took me under his wing and we trained together a lot.”
“Do you see your parents often?” I ask, realizing he doesn’t mention them much. It might be unreasonable, but I never really considered that a magical being with wings also must originate somewhere.
“My mother likes to travel and writes about that, so I get letters from her every now and then, but my father died almost ten years ago now. He was a knight and protected the Nocturne Court at its time of need but paid for it with his life. It was a time of great turmoil, as the then-Lord also perished, along with many royals. As the crown prince’s guard, my role grew in importance, so I… I guess I focused on that. But I do miss him.”
I stumble, my hand squeezing his as regret weaves itself around my chest. Oh God. I’m so stupid. He told me his father died. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“No, it’s fine. Time has passed. I rarely get to talk about him. He was an honorable man, and funny as well. He… His Dark Companion brought out the best in him, as he was very protective of her. Her name was Gene, and she was an insatiable flirt. My father was very careful in the way he used her shadow, left her on the shore during the battle, but after he died, she waded into the sea and was bitten by despairs. There was no way to save her after that.”
I feel like an idiot when my first thought concerns the nature of the relationship between Tristan’s mother, father, and his Dark Companion, because he’s just shared something important, and here I am, selfishly considering information that has nothing to do with me.
Well… technically it does. I am still his promised, and if I pursue him after breaking our shadow bond, he might want to make someone else his Dark Companion, and then I might just die out of jealousy.
“At least you have memories. That’s important.”
“Do you remember your parents at all?”
We go through the small side door, and for a moment my heart stalls in panic at the darkness of the corridor. I’m so frustrated with my own reactions, with how easily terrified I get, and how my mind spirals back to that pit of despair in Gloombane’s tower.
But Tristan is here with me, and he lights a torch on the wall.
“Sadly, not really. I was too young, but my grandparents are amazing,” I say, leaning some of my weight on Tristan. I’m not in pain, but even with the torch, and the moonshard glasses, the shadows are deep, and I worry I might misstep. “I think I should maybe contact them soon.”