A Curse of Shadows

Noen is right on our heels, keeping just behind, as is his place. Something he’s always respected and I hate that I let my jealousy from all those years ago get the better of me. He didn’t deserve for me to keep Isla’s return a secret nor did he deserve the way I treated him in my office this morning.

So long as Isla remains comfortable with him, I won’t stand in his way of getting to know his friend again. Though as I think that thought, my wolf doesn’t seem to agree. There’s a rumble in his chest and I’m reminded that I wasn’t the only one concerned with their friendship.

Regardless, I’m going to do my best to give Noen the benefit of the doubt until I have a logical reason not to.

Within a few minutes, we arrive at Lunara Academy and I shift back to human form. Noen, however, stays as his mahogany-coated wolf, ready to act at my command.

I turn to Noen, nodding at him as I use mind speak to communicate with him. “I’m going to go check inside. You do a loop and contact me if you sense anything off.”

“She’s going to be fine,” he states confidently. I can’t tell if he’s saying that for me or for himself. “Let me know when you find her.”

Just as he takes off, I sense Isla’s scent wrapping around me. “Wait,” I call back to Noen. “She’s coming out.”

He circles back around, eyes on the door just like mine are. Estee runs out first, eyes red and not paying attention to us. I call her name, but she turns sharply, running as quickly as her long strides will take her on two feet.

I’d go after her, but I’m more concerned with Isla and just as my attention goes back to the academy, she’s coming through the doors with my mother holding her up. My heart nearly stops when I see how pale my mate is. Her hands shake and I’m not even sure if she’s breathing.

Running to her, I take her from my mother. “What happened?”

“I don’t know,” Mom says. “Isla was stuck in a memory and Estee ran off in tears. Isla hasn’t said a word since.” She hands me a book. “This is the one that brought the memory on.”

Origins of Reincarnation.

Interesting, considering something went wrong with hers.

“I’ll get her to the carriage,” I say, assuming my mother is going to join us.

“I need to go speak with the headmaster,” she says with a frown. “I don’t want to bring Isla back here if this is going to be so triggering for her. We’ll bring what we can to the castle. The school will just need to be okay with that.”

“Thank you, Mom.” With Isla in my arms, I nod at Noen before speaking to him. “Follow us to the castle and keep an eye out for Estee. Someone needs to figure out what happened to them both.”

“I’ll go after her as soon as the two of you are behind closed doors,” Noen replies, his sense of duty clear in his voice.

I tell the coachman to take us back before I enclose the carriage, keeping Isla tucked into my side. Stroking her cheek, I look down and am relieved to find some of the color coming back to her face.

“What happened, Issie?” My voice is half a plea and half filled with rage. I don’t know what memory caused this sort of reaction, but if I can do anything about it, I’m going to.

Her entire body shudders and I hold her tighter as she rubs her fingers over the center of her chest. “So cold.”

With a few tugs, I pull my dress shirt over my head with my hand, then turn to cover her with it. “We’ll be home soon and I’ll start a fire for you to rest in front of.”

I want to know what she saw, but I don’t push. Instead, I hold her tightly, hoping the warmth of my body and the extra layer of my shirt will make her stop shaking, but even as we pull up in front of the castle, she still trembles.

Lifting her into my arms, I don’t bother letting her walk. I spot Noen’s wolf go around back and he lets me know that he’s off to find Estee.

People stare as I walk into the castle with Isla in my arms, but I don’t say anything to them. They can think what they want for now. My mate is more important than quelling any rumors that may get started from seeing their king walk in shirtless.

“Mali,” I call through our mind link. “I’ll be in my room for the remainder of the day and I’m not to be disturbed unless a war is about to start.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” he responds promptly. “I’ll be around should you need anything.”

All I need is for Isla to tell me how I can fix whatever is happening to her.

I go straight to my quarters and settle Isla onto the couch in front of the fireplace before grabbing a few logs and kindling to light. My movements are quick, but even so, when I turn back around, hoping for Isla to appear better, she looks worse.

Her paling face and labored breathing are beginning to chip away at my calm. Being helpless to do anything to make this situation better is going to drive me to insanity.

I grab a blanket from the closet and wrap it around my mate, then I kneel in front of her. “Isla, love. Please talk to me.”