The marriage of shadows

o of something ancient and alive. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but it set her on

earth, yet the sound persisted, vibrating in her chest a

e cold stone floor. The castle was eerily quiet, its walls seeming to watch her with invisibl

er the cast

nd, but curiosity gnawed at her

est stretched out before her, its trees dark and gnarled, their branches clawing at the night sky. Beyond the forest, th

w louder. She pressed a hand to her chest, as if to

. The hallway was bathed in shadows, lit only by faint, flickerin

art. The air grew colder the farther she ventured, and the humming became a low,

a corner

rkness, its form barely distinguishable from the shadows around it. Velina's breath caught a

sn't

movements unnatural, like a mari

turned to flee, but before she could take another step, the

r, but it was empty. The air felt heavier now,

lin

ent a jolt through her. She turned again

e was

ted, louder this time, ec

e

orridors, her shawl billowing behind her. She didn't stop until she reac

e tried to catch her b

re you

deep, cold, an

the room, where Kael stood, his arms

her voice trembling.

r, his movements slow and deliberate. "And

of his presence making it diffic

ve done?" His voice was sharp n

way to indignation. "I don't need

re was no humor in it. "No, you don't. But if

and she took an inv

gs in this castle that would see you as nothing more than prey. And i

but she refused to let him see her f

something softer, before his cold mask return

bubbling beneath her fear. "

soft. "You're my wife. And as long as y

ornin

of the castle's bells tolling. She had barely s

ession impassive as he informed her that th

at contrasted sharply with the somber tones of the castle. She

one walls giving it an unwelcoming atmosphere. Kael sat at the he

" he said, his

d, her voice steady despit

site him, the silenc

," he observed, h

, refusing to look

itched, but he

Velina decided to break the silence. "W

n darkened. "You

r hands clench

The castle is old, Velina. Older than you can imagi

epeated, her b

ment, there was a flicker of somet

y. "The castle is a sanctuary for some of those things. They are bound

hest, but she forced herself to

ous smile. "That, Velina, is a questio