Free Shadow Touched (Shadow Roamer #1) by Lilou Roux Page B

dropped the shadow touched distinction. “Thank you, sir.”
    “Well, I for one think you passed the test.” She was pretty sure she didn’t imagine the little wink.
    Fosco cleared his throat in order to gain his colleague’s attention. “Yes, her skills are quite impressive, I agree Ash. But we’re here to decide about her nature , and who could tell how long it would take for the shadow touched insanity to take hold?”
    “It won’ t take hold. Not now that her body and mind have claimed the shadows as a part of her.” The King Vago’s deep voice had no trouble reaching every corner of the room and he didn’t even raise it that much. “And because her blood is stronger than that of any other shadow touched.”
    Ash looked at him. “What are you saying, my King?”
    “That she is of royal blood. She’s Alba’s daughter and my niece.”
    Surprise was an audible wave sweeping through the room. Even Ash needed a moment to find his words again.
    “How is that possible?” Fosco demanded but was ignored.
    “It’s not that I doubt your word my King, but the Council does need proof of that.” After the King gave a wave of his hand, Ash’s gaze flicked back to hers. “May I taste your blood, Stella?”
    Um. No one but Nero had ever taken her blood. Sensing her hesitation he assured her. “It’ll be quick. Come here.”
    In a blink of an eye she was up in the balcony, having jumped the shadows.
    “Give me your hand.”
    She did, and then, before it even registered, he had taken her finger and nicked it with one fang. Stella barely felt the swipe of his tongue. Quick and clinically. No emotion whatsoever.
     
     
     
     
     

FOURTEEN
    Nero’s jaw clenched as he saw Council member Ash leaning forward and taking Stella’s finger into his mouth. He did it quickly, without any ulterior motive but finding out the truth, but Nero simply didn’t like seeing another man take her blood. Even if it was Ash, even if it was just her finger – he didn’t like it and that was it.
    She was… his .
    When he had seen her for the first time, she had stunned him. With her fire, with her hunger for life and her will to fight. It shouldn’t amaze him that they were so good together - in all manners, be it in the bedroom or just their personalities. The way they could agree without words or butt heads and then laugh about it.
    Though they would butt more than just heads for what she had done to him before heading o ff into that arena.
    It had been the kiss of all kisses and then she had whispered those three words into his ear. Words he had heard before but had never returned. Words that had hit him like a freight train, as had the need to say them as well.
    He had wanted nothing more than to run after her , but Vago had stopped him, physically stopped him of doing so.
    While Vago had talked him down, Nero’s mind had been busy coming up with all sorts of ideas of how he would make her pay for doing that to him. His mind had imagined hours of pleasurable torture in bed… their bed…for he knew that he would never want anyone else there.
    But then reality had come crushing back. Seeing her fight and not being able to help her had been the hardest and proudest moment of his life. She had nailed those suckers – the demons and the Council. Never once had she backed down, never once had she wavered. She had been the fighter, he had glimpsed inside of her four weeks ago. His fighter. He didn’t care if his smug smile was as radiant as the sun.
    Stunned, Ash announced, “It’s true. She’s of Alba’s blood.”
    Murmurs from the balcony above them, and Nero was glad when the King interrupted them. “I don’t know the hows or whys surrounding Stella’s heritage, but one thing is for sure, it cannot be ignored. Neither can the fact that she passed your test. Quite impressively as you have said so yourself. So how about we let her go so she can take care of the wounds she has sustained?”
    “Of course.” Ash turned to