#The reluctant consort duke of silver shores

[mentallyimwrappedinablanket]

As you know, Jihan, I was born in Levan in the depths of Blood Nation’s valleys,” Firuz said, his voice low, his gaze distant as he talked of his past. “My parents are Shadow Guards, making my blood pure. They gave me to the Quadrum at the age of three. I drank the Quadrum’s elixirs and lived their training. When I had lived two decades, the choice to leave and start a family was given to me. I refused it, favoring the Quadrum and the life of a Shadow Guard. It is where I’m happiest, Jihan. It is my choice to protect.”

“I heard one of you serves the Queen of Tanad,” Jihan said, folding his arms on his lap. “Surely, you would wish for such a life.”

“Don’t insult my choice to defend your twelve year old self,” Firuz said. “When I met you, you were an angry child, Jihan. The only things you lived for were to succeed and protect your sister. If your family had not made the plea to the Quadrum for a Shadow Guard, I fear you might be long dead by now.”

“I wasn’t that bad,” Jihan said, with a sigh.

Firuz chuckled.

“I remember accepting the order to find you. I left Levan thinking you were a quiet twelve year old that needed babysitting at the most."

I think I missed how old Firuz was when I first read this and I pictured him as basically being the same age as Jihan and this little kid showing up out of nowhere to protect this other little kid (which I still kind of like the idea of) but him being twenty already does make more sense considering his physical skills and abilities.

When am I going to get a book centered on the shadow guards 😔

Spoilery thought below the cut

Ooooh so this means Aoi would have been about twenty when she came to guard Rahsan as well! It makes me wonder how old Kyra was when she got a shadow guard? I'd imagine around the same age considering the pattern? Maybe a little older since she would have had a little more protection than some of the others considering she's a princess?

[mentallyimwrappedinablanket]

He shook his head and turned to Firuz.

“Go break his arms for me,” Jihan said to Firuz.

“Why?” Firuz asked, meeting his gaze, his tone bored.

“He touched my sister!” Jihan yelled. “Now do it!”

Jihan being overly dramatic my beloved <3

Firuz sighed and crossed the distance to Ishan.

Jihan gave Ishan points for not running when Firuz approached him. Ishan’s arms dropped to his sides, and he bit his bottom lip when Firuz took his left arm. Nervous energy wrapped around him as Firuz tightened his grip.

Firuz *sigh* just another Tuesday

Ishan *sweats nervously*

“Start with his right,” Jihan said, feeling mean.

“You’re not serious about this, are you?” Ishan asked, his tone wavering, his worried gaze on Jihan now. “Jihan, come on, you’re my brother.....

......Jihan said, shaking his head. “How could you—?”

Jihan NO ansjsksk I love that Ishan starts to question whether or not he's bluffing 💀

Firuz gripped Ishan’s right arm and smiled at Ishan.

“Don’t fault me for this, Lord Gura. I’m bound to him so I have to do what he wants.”

Ishan sighed and nodded his hair a mess around his shoulders. He looked like a crazy man losing his wits even as he desperately tried to cling to them.

“Firuz, it’s not your fault. I know my friend’s temper.... I can't fault him right now. This is a lot to take in. Make sure to make it easy for me to heal. I know it will be painful…”

Ishan continued, as Firuz delayed his orders.

This part kills me they're both so civil while talking about breaking his arms akskkdkddkks LOVE that no one holds anything against Firuz <3 they know he's just doing his job. Firuz just casually stalling while Jihan calms down, he knows Jihan to well he knows when Jihan is being a ✨drama king✨

[mentallyimwrappedinablanket]

....when a strong hand wrapped around his right wrist. Firuz reacted fast, drawing his knife and pressing it on the hand holding Jihan’s wrist.

Both men were deadly in their own right, Firuz more so as he dealt death in the most efficient of ways.

Firuz moved with Jihan, his blade on Master Safan’s inner wrist. Jihan fought to stay calm. Any abrupt movement on his part, and Firuz would sink the knife into Master Safan’s wrist and cut into the vital vein there. It would be swift, Firuz’s only intention to free Jihan without damage.

Master Safan would bleed out in minutes.

Jihan could not wince in pain even as Master Safan tightened his hold again.

“That’s a Shadow Guard with a knife on your wrist,” the mysterious man said, his tone enough to tell Jihan that he understood Firuz’s abilities.

Safan let go of Jihan’s hand fast, hissing as though stung as he raised his hands up in a show of surrender.

Jihan stepped between Firuz and Safan, placing his injured hand on the hand Firuz was using to hold his knife.

“I’m not injured,” Jihan said, keeping his tone very calm.

Safan started to step back and Jihan felt Firuz’s hand tense ready to strike.

“Master Safan means us no harm,” Jihan said, just as he saw the mysterious man place a hand on Safan’s shoulder to stop him from moving.

It took another three heartbeats before Firuz put the knife away. He did not move away from Jihan, keeping close.

Jihan nodded and met the two men’s gazes before he turned and led the way back to his carriage. Firuz followed behind him. Jihan took his first easy breath when the carriage started moving and Firuz entered the carriage and sat opposite him.

They rode in silence for a minute then Firuz lowered his head in apology.

“He touched you,” Firuz said. “There was nothing to do but respond.”

“I know,” Jihan said, letting out a sigh.

They were lucky Firuz listened to him. Shadow Guards had strict brutal training. Their first instinct in a situation like that was to decapitate. Master Safan’s hand would have turned into a stump in seconds.

“He hurt you,” Firuz said, reaching for Jihan’s right wrist. “There will be a bruise tomorrow. This Master Safan is no ordinary man.”

Scenes that live in my head rent free No! One! Touches! Jihan! Guard dog Firuz for the win <3 And I love how Jihan doesn't even fault him for it like Firuz: sorry I was doing my job 😬 Jihan: I know this and I love you for it carry on.

[mentallyimwrappedinablanket]

Firuz’s steps to the door were silent.

Jihan had made it a game to listen to Firuz’s footsteps as he moved. He started the game at eleven years of age, he had yet to win, and Firuz got more skilled with each year. Jihan had decided the silent steps were a good thing. He would worry when he could hear Firuz’s footsteps.

Hello???? I love that he's been trying to hear Firuz's footsteps for so long, and knows there's nothing to worry about when he's being his usual quiet self.

[mentallyimwrappedinablanket]