Page 138      Sitting before a sleeping eliksni, Shadow watches them with an intent amber stare. In the darkness of the former King's cell, the hunter can just make out the uneven rising and falling of her chest. It's the first time she has seen her look remotely peaceful. Caught on Venus, Irelekh of House Kings had been sentenced to death for her crimes. But Shadow was not prepared to take this young eliksni's life, and so, despite Eramis's disapproval, had spared her. In the wake of losing her family, and father, Craask, it seemed the eliksni had become increasingly unstable, worshipping the fire that had taken her mother's life as well as horrifically disfigured half of Irelekh's own body. Though Alekris had encouraged this as a mercy killing, Shadow couldn't entertain the thought. She feels a strange kinship and understanding for the lost eliksni. Wolf's presence over her shoulder has becoming stifling. "You should have killed her," he growls softly. Shadow's eyes harden. She sends a brief glance over her shoulder. "I wanted her alive." "My Queen." Wolf's extended hand catches her eye. Quietly so as not to disturb the prisoner, Shadow turns to her friend. "I mean no disrespect. I simply warn you keeping Irelekh here could endanger our people. She's wild, unpredictable." Shadow eyes Wolf thoughtfully in silence, her glowing eyes lighting the details of his face like a flame. Taking a deep breath, she prepares to defend herself again, perhaps add that Variks had also vied for her life. But Wolf goes on, his palms raised respectfully. The gesture surprises her. "But of course, I trust you know this, and have our best interests at heart." Unsure how to respond, Shadow offers him a small nod of appreciation. She stifles the pride and power surging through her chest. A feeling the queen had learned would become all to familiar. She's become accustomed to the way they look at her, the way they speak to her. Shadow turns back to Irelekh, watching her begin to kick and scramble within nightmare-filled sleep. A deep frown lines her tired face. Irelekh was the least of her worries, in all reality, though she hopes to keep her alive. Now that Shadow was allied with Eramis, she fears her short lived power may be nearing its end. And so was Variks's.