Chapter 9

Chapter

Nine

NYKO

T hey say change never visits the deep currents of Blight, but the air tells a different story today.

A new scent lingers through the corridors, half human, half Shadowfen—someone Killian has been chasing to bring back for us. The girl who will be our key to removing that traitor from the throne, who we'll use to our advantage and gain back so much that we've lost.

I lurk in the hallway, the thrill of the hunt pouring through me. This newcomer might be the catalyst we need, but for now, I'm driven by a more primal curiosity.

Her scent fills the vessel, sweet and unfamiliar, reminding me of the red berries Killian once brought from Earth. Others on the ship have also been talking about her.

Except she has no idea what's coming her way.

Until then, I can play.

I glide through the shadows as one of them, my form barely a whisper along the darkened corridor. Killian and Wolfe might sense my presence when I take shadow form—the bastards always do—but to others, I'm just another shade in the gloom.

Her scent is stronger up on this floor, intoxicatingly so, mixed with something wild that tightens my gut in anticipation.

Reaching the Chamber of Tomes, I slip inside, merging with the dimly lit edges of the room. There she is, high up on the lift, flailing as if battling something in the air. What is she doing up there? Silver hair flutters behind her as she swings around on the spot.

I scurry up the bookshelves toward her, my form shifting closer to where the shadows are densest. Inches behind her, I cling to the shelves, my senses overwhelmed by her closeness.

Inhaling, I draw her deep into my lungs, tasting the sweetness of her scent on my tongue.

Berries.

Faint perspiration.

A sliver of bitter fear.

And beneath it all, her sex scent finds me…

I shudder at how intensely it curls through me.

She's dressed in a black bodysuit that hugs every inch of her, following the curves of her tiny waist and the flow of her hips. Where the fabric tucks itself between her asscheeks has me staring, desperate to reach out and lick.

She turns abruptly, and I leap across to the other side of the room, still keeping her in my sight. Something about her stills me, quiets the constant chaos that roils within me. It's just us here, in the silence of this vast room, surrounded by tomes and the hum of the vessel.

Glancing my way, I flick over into a dark corner to not spook her… not yet, anyway.

She fiddles with the lift, calling for Howler. However, he's not permitted in the Chamber of Tomes, not after he went into a frenzy in an attempt to explain the premise of every book in our possession in under a minute. He practically went into meltdown, sending the whole vessel into a blackout.

I blame Killian. The fucker taunted him, got him all worked up to the point that he frizzled.

Wolfe lost his shit, and it took us two days to get Howler back online as we floated aimlessly at sea.

Right now, my gaze lingers on the human girl, the fabric moving with her, shimmering slightly under the intermittent lights.

When they hit her clothes from a certain angle, the black fabric becomes almost transparent, revealing what's underneath.

Shifting closer, she turns, her full tits jumping under her suit, and the light illuminates her, showing me everything.

I freeze.

Round, high-placed breasts.

A small mound of hair between those gorgeous thighs.

I lose my grip, suddenly falling. She glances in my direction again, and I'm kicking against a shelf, throwing myself higher up to where light won't reach.

Pausing in the spot, it's impossible to flush out the images of me stripping her, giving her my personal welcome to the vessel. Wolfe would go ballistic. He made it clear she's not to be touched or played with because she's our answer to gaining our kingdom back.

But would a bit of play hurt anyone?

She's so much more than I expected, so much the perfect little package needing unwrapping. I assumed I'd just have some fun with her, scare her a bit, but now I've got something else in mind.

The girl's stunning, incomparable to anyone on our vessel. Silver hair tumbles over her shoulders with a faint tint of violet… a sure sign she's coming into her breeding term—a time when her body seeks her mate, where she'll cry for him to fuck her. Most women never find their true mate, and the Shadowfen males are well versed in pleasing a female to sate her during these times.

The idea that this innocent human has no clue about the changes her body is undergoing amuses me. If she needs guidance, I'm here, lurking in the shadows, ready to emerge.

Suddenly, she's plummeting down in the lift, her screams piercing the quiet. Why doesn't she simply tap the lever more softly to control her descent?

As she stumbles out of the cage, disoriented and nearly collapsing, instinct propels me toward her. I swoop down, my form nothing but a swift blur.

Catching sight of me, her eyes widen with unmistakable fear, and she bolts from the room, her screams echoing down the corridor. I pursue her frantically.

When I catch up, she's recoiling from a collision with Killian. His arm swoops around her back, pulling her closer and guiding her away. He throws a knowing glance back at me—damn him, he's always aware of me.

Under my breath, a low growl rumbles, a sound of frustration. I back away, leaving them, knowing I'll get my chance soon enough.