A Curse of Shadows

Yet just as I’m about to call for breakfast, a knock at my door halts me—a knock that brings a challenge I’m not yet ready to face.

It’s Noen and Declan. I sense both of them and I’ve yet to tell them of Isla’s return.

Years ago, I hated Noen because of Isla. Well, more like my younger self was jealous of him. They were close, best friends, even, having grown up as neighbors before Isla had moved into the castle with me.

I’d sworn Noen had wanted to take her from me, but after her disappearance, he was there for me. Offering thoughts and ideas of where she could be, always making sure I was doing okay. Sure, his concern seemed most heavily focused on Isla, but there was a comradery I began to feel with him that I’d refused to before.

One that has grown over the centuries and why he’s now one of my most trusted friends. Yet I refused to send word to him about Isla’s return.

Selfishly, I want to keep her all to myself. I don’t want her to remember him before she does me. Yes, she recalled a memory of us in the cave, but it’s not the attraction Isla and I share that I’m worried about. I need her to remember our bond, the power of our connection, and how we used to believe there wasn’t anyone or anything that could tear us apart.

Now, she’s going to have Estee and Noen and I know it sounds pathetic not wanting to share her, even if their presence might help her remember. I just can’t help myself.

I’m out of time, though.

“We know you’re in there, Ash,” Noen calls out as he pounds on the door again. “Open up.”

With a heavy sigh, I walk to the door and unlock it before opening up.

“So, he does live,” Declan jests. “We thought maybe you’d died since we weren’t hearing from you.”

“Have you seen anyone else since returning?” I ask, stepping out of the way so they can enter.

The two of them share a look and shake their heads.

Noen runs a hand over his dark-blond hair and narrows his green eyes at me. “I know I’m tired, but is the infamous King Asher nervous about something?”

Declan takes a seat on my couch, kicking his dirty boots on my table before unbuttoning his vest and rubbing two fingers over his beard. “I think he might be.” He winks, a spark in his golden eyes. “Now, Asher. Tell us what plagues our dear friend.”

Noen takes a seat as well, but I remain standing behind one of the chairs as my stare moves between the two of them. There’s never going to be an easy time to say the words, so I just do it.

“Isla has returned.”

They look at each other, matching creases between their brows before Declan asks, “Who the hell is Isla?”

Of course.

“Isobella Blackwood.” I watch Noen closely as I say her name and his face pales, just as I expected. “She’s returned with no memory and now prefers to be called ‘Isla.’ The name she was born with this lifetime on Earth.”

“Earth?” Noen gapes. “How the hell is this possible?”

“We’re still sorting that out,” I start to explain before Declan cuts in.

“And what of Estee? Did they come back together?”

I raise a brow at him, my suspicions on high alert. “Why would you assume they were together after the note she left?”

He rolls his eyes. “Oh, come on, Ash. Don’t tell me you bought that bullshit. Estee went looking for her sister and she didn’t want to follow any rules. I assumed that at some point, she got herself into more trouble than she could handle and never found her way back. But if Isobella’s been alive this whole time, maybe Estee found her and they decided to stay together, meaning if one is back, then the other could be too.”

He makes a good point, one I hadn’t considered. Which means there’s a chance that Grayson could have been partially wrong before. Allowing myself to jump to the conclusion that someone murdered them may have been preferable to believing my mate chose to leave me, but then again, I always trust my first instinct. Even if this other scenario sounds equally plausible.

“Yes, Estee is back as well,” I admit. “We’re still trying to piece together what happened. It’s only been a few days since Isla?—”

Noen is on his feet. “A few days? What the hell, Asher? Why didn’t you call me back?”

He has every right to be furious with me. I should have sent word to him, but Isla is my mate and sharing her with anyone else was at the bottom of my priority list. Right or wrong, I won’t apologize for that.

“Because she doesn’t remember you,” I tell him, possibly a little too harshly. “She doesn’t remember any of this. I’m not going to overwhelm her with too much at once and push her away. She didn’t even want to stay when she first arrived. I won’t risk losing my mate again, not for any reason.”