Page 66 of The Shadows Between Us
A silence builds, as we both think about the obvious. We’re naked. In a lake. Doing nothing untoward.
How is this my life right now?
I need to say something else. But all of the topics racing through my mind are terribly inappropriate.
“Are you a virgin?” I ask.
Well done, Alessandra.
But he seems beyond amused by the question. “No. Are you?”
I should say yes. A lady’s entire reputation hinges on that fact, as I well know. But the way he asks, in earnest, I can’t help but wonder…
“Would it matter if I wasn’t?” I dare to ask.
“Not at all,” he says immediately.
My lips part. “But it’s practically an unspoken law that ladies must be virgins on their wedding nights.”
“It’s no law of mine. In fact, I’ve made a point of doing my best to give ladies the same rights as men. It’s what my mother would have wanted. And besides, how can men expect all the ladies to remain virgins while they don’t? The numbers don’t add up.”
He’s serious. All this time I worried about Myron ruining things, when I needn’t have bothered at all.
First thing when we get back, I’m calling in his debts.
“No,” I say at last. “I’m not a virgin.” Then I hurry to add, “So you permit yourself to touch people after all, then?”
“I used to. Before I was king.”
“And the ladies in question are not around to counteract your ability?”
“When I was younger,” he explains, “I paid handsomely for the attentions of women. Courtesans, mostly, who I then gave small fortunes to so they could start their lives over in one of the other five kingdoms.”
“That’s… smart,” I tell him.
He looks down at the water, watching droplets fall from his fingers. “I almost wish I hadn’t. Then I would never know what I was missing.”
Perhaps I should be sympathetic. Instead, I ask, “You’ve been celibate for an entire year?”
“Yes.”
“And you plan to remain celibate?” There might be unnecessary pauses between each of the words, but I can’t help it. “Surely it’s not worth it?”
He shrugs. “I am the most powerful man in the world, and I will live forever. I imagine men would give up a lot more for immortality alone.”
Hmm. What would I give up for such power?
I suppose it doesn’t matter. All I have to do is invest my time. There’s nothing I have to give up.
“Where did this shadow ability originate?” I ask.
“My family has been ruling since the dawn of time, or so I’ve been told. One of my ancestors—his name was Bachnamon—struggled to maintain his throne. Many attempts were made on his life. His own cousin tried to usurp him.
“He prayed to the gods for help first. The god of strength. The god of wisdom. The god of justice. He asked for the strength to maintain his power, to be strong enough to destroy his enemies. He wanted his line to remain in power forever. None answered.
“So he prayed to the devils next. The devil of suffering. The devil of vengeance. The devil of pain. The last one answered. Bachnamon was granted the power of the shadows. He was invulnerable to death and pain so long as he remained in his shadow form. But because the ability was gifted by a devil, it was not without its price. He was granted immortality, so long as he spent most of his days in shadow. But if he didn’t, the ability would be passed on to his children.”
I stand there, digesting that all for a moment while watching tendrils of shadow snake up his arms.
