Page 11 of The Shadows Between Us
“What are you doing, silly creature?” I adjust myself to avoid losing my balance and end up bumping into something with my foot.
A ball the size of an apple. Hidden beneath my skirts. I reach down for it.
“Oh, is this what you’re looking for?” I ask.
The dog jumps to a standing position, tail wagging, finally freeing my skirt. I cock back my arm, throw the ball as far as I can, and watch the giant mongrel race after it.
And then, out of the corner of my eye, a wisp of shadow.
The king is watching me. His shadows darken once our eyes meet, swirling more thickly about his form. I wonder if they change with his thoughts. If I could learn to read them if I studied them long enough.
He stands in the shade cast by one of the trees, leaning his frame against the trunk. Today he has his hair brushed back from his forehead, and I can’t begin to guess what sorcery manages to hold the strands in place with such volume. He wears a long-sleeved black dress shirt, matching gloves, a waistcoat of deep blue brocade, and a black cravat.
I hadn’t realized I’d been smiling at the dog until I feel my features shift into surprise.
And then I watch the dog trot over to the king and drop the ball at his feet.
With a quick adjustment, I right my overskirt and sweep toward the king, stopping when I’m five feet away. I cross my arms over my chest.
“Is that your dog?” I accuse, even though I already know the answer.
“Good boy, Demodocus,” the Shadow King says, picking up the balland tossing it away again. Demodocus races after it once more. To me, he says, “You have a good arm.”
“And you have impressive aim.”
He lifts a brow. “Surely you’re not accusing me of intentionally throwing the ball at you.”
“That’s exactly what you did.” But why? “If you wanted my attention, all you had to do was ask for it. Though I’m disinclined to give it now that I know you practically ordered your dog to tackle me.”
The corners of his mouth turn up. “It wasn’t your attention I wanted. I was curious to see how you would react to Demodocus.”
“Why?” I ask, baffled.
Demodocus gallops toward us before dropping the ball at the king’s perfectly polished shoes. He raises it in a black-gloved hand before hurling it toward a group of ladies sitting in chairs along the creek. Demodocus streaks in front of them, racing to catch his prize, and a volley of shrieks rises into the air.
The king arches his neck slightly, as though this proves his point. Whatever that may be.
“You react well to the unexpected,” he says at last. “And you like animals. That’s two things I didn’t know about you before.”
“And you are devious.” Siccing his dog on unsuspecting ladies.
“Now surely you’d already guessed that about me,” he says, pushing off from the tree. He steps into the light, and I step backward with the movement, keeping the appropriate distance. His grin grows as he looks me up and down.
“Something funny?” I ask.
“I’m merely admiring your attire once again. Tell me, is the corset not meant to go underneath the blouse?”
“It’s not a corset. It’s merely styled after one. I like the way the laces look. Why hide them?”
The king takes a moment to digest that. “You are going to cause all kinds of trouble in my court.”
I can’t tell if he’s worried or amused by that.
“Just look at how you’ve already changed things. If you will excuse me.” He turns to the side. “Demodocus! Come, boy!”
Demodocus reaches the king, and the two take off at a brisk jog through the trees, shadows streaking after the king like a comet.
Already changed things? But whatever could he mean?
