Crown of Shadows

Chapter 15-Aelin

As I walked into the main hall of the Assassins Keep, I carried the head and hand of the man we had been sent to eliminate. The weight of the grisly trophies meant nothing to me as I approached Phantom, my stride purposeful and determined.

Without a word, I dropped the head and hand onto the floor at his feet, the sound of their impact echoing through the hall.

"Got your prize," I said, my voice steady.

Phantom studied me for a moment, his dark eyes assessing. Then, to my surprise, he stepped forward, his gaze piercing.

"Your head is finally clearing of the smoke," he said, his voice low and gravelly.

I met his gaze, my expression impassive. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice betraying none of the curiosity that churned inside me.

But Phantom didn't answer. Instead, he reached out and brushed a strand of hair from my face, his touch sending a shiver down my spine.

"You have potential, Aelin," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "But you must learn to harness it. To control it."

I nodded, my mind racing with questions, but I kept them to myself. "Of course," I said, my voice steady.

Phantom's eyes flickered with something that looked like approval, but before I could react, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing alone in the hall, the weight of his words settling heavily on my shoulders.

As I watched him go, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was very, very wrong. But try as I might, I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was. But I don't really care right now.

As Phantom left, Kodlak approached me, his gaze softening as he met my eyes. I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief at his presence.

"Hey," I said, offering him a small smile. "Wanna wander around in the woods for a bit? In our daemon forms, I mean."

Kodlak's eyes lit up with excitement. "Sure," he said, his voice eager. "That sounds like fun."

We walked out of the Assassins Keep and into the surrounding woods, finding a secluded spot where we wouldn't be disturbed. With a shared glance, we both shifted into our wolf daemon forms.

Kodlak's wolf form was a striking red, his golden eyes gleaming in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the trees. I couldn't help but admire him for a moment before shaking myself out of my reverie.

Together, we bounded through the forest, the wind in our fur and the earth beneath our paws. For a brief moment, I forgot about the darkness that lurked beyond the safety of the woods. All that mattered was the freedom of the forest and the bond between Kodlak and me.

We ran through the woods, our senses heightened in our wolf forms. The crisp air filled our lungs as we moved gracefully between the trees, our wolf instincts taking over.

As we ran, I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over me. In this form, everything felt simpler, more instinctual. There were no worries about the dangers that lurked in the shadows, no thoughts of the darkness that threatened to consume us.

It was just Kodlak and me, running free beneath the canopy of trees.

As we ran through the woods, our senses heightened in our wolf forms, I felt a surge of exhilaration course through me. The crisp air filled my lungs as I moved gracefully between the trees, my giant white wolf form cutting through the forest with ease. Kodlak ran beside me, his red wolf form a vibrant flash of color against the greenery.

The wind whipped through my fur as we bounded through the forest, the earth beneath our paws vibrating with each powerful stride. I glanced over at Kodlak, his golden eyes gleaming with excitement as he darted through the trees.

For a while, we lost ourselves in the rhythm of our movements, the sound of our paws against the forest floor echoing through the trees. But eventually, the weight of our reality began to settle back in, and we slowed to a stop, our wolf forms dissipating as we returned to our human selves.

As we stood there, catching our breath, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the brief respite the forest had provided. But I knew that we couldn't stay hidden in the safety of the woods forever.

We had things to do, and there were still so many unanswered questions swirling around in my mind. But for now, I pushed them aside, focusing instead on the bond between Kodlak and me. As long as we had each other, I knew that we could face whatever challenges lay ahead.