Of Mist and Shadow (The Mist King, #1)

by Jenna Wolfhart

I was sworn to serve his every need, smile and laugh at his jokes, be silent when commanded, and offer myself up as his next mortal bride.

What did he see? I couldn’t help but wonder. A weak, little thing, shuddering before his gaze? Or did he see what I wanted to show the world? Strength, ferocity. Defiance.

The Festival of Light only happened once every seventy-five years. Most mortal girls never got to experience the excitement of it, of being presented before the fae king. He would choose his next human bride.

But in each one, there was always him. The leader of the light fae rebels, who lived in a forgotten city on the other side of the chasm.

“Make sure she has a bath and a fresh change of clothes. And for the moon’s sake, make sure she eats some fucking bread.”

His will was now linked to mine, and I had no way of escaping him. A single thread wove between us, wrapping around our souls, and tying tight. Maybe this had been a terrible idea. I’d made a deal with the Mist King.

“I won’t let you step one foot on that bridge until we can be certain you know how to defend yourself. He cannot harm you again.”

But I could not stop the jolt to my heart, the instinct to rush to her side and make sure she was alright.

trust me, you do not want to make him wait. When it comes to the ones he loves, he can be vicious.”

The Mist King cared deeply for his people. I’d never seen King Oberon worry about anything other than gaining power.

The Mist King had the look of a man who loved. A man who had already lost so much. A man whose soul had been shattered.

Kalen screamed strength and power, his muscular form impossible and deadly and—

You’re not the enemy of the world, Kalen. I see that now.”

He’d make himself the villain if that meant saving the world from the gods. I could not hate him for that. “I understand what you tried to do, even if I don’t like the result of it.”

“Don’t worry,” he said in a low growl. “It would have to kill me before I would let it take you from me.”

I flicked my gaze down at where her fingers curled against the side of my leg, and for a moment, the only thing in the world that existed was this.

I shouldn’t have been surprised. I was the bloody Mist King. Why would anyone want to touch a monster like me?

“Because I can’t stand the thought of his hands on you.”

“Mates are a forever thing. It is a bond that cannot be broken. It transcends even death. I do not want anything less than the deepest connection I could ever find. Anything less than that is not worth the trouble. I want—no, I need—someone whose soul matches mine.”

“Tell me, love. What else makes you squirm like this? I need to know exactly what you like.”