Page 103 of Prince of Darkness and Deceit

I lift my gaze. “You’ll be gone in days.”

“Someone as intelligent as you can learn a lot in a couple of days.”

I scowl even as the compliment warms my chest. “You don’t know me.”

“Not personally, no.” He tilts his head, and a dark strand falls over his eye. “But did you think I wouldn’t strive to learn about you after allowing you to step foot into our camp?”

Obviously. That would be the reasonable thing to do.

“Well, I don’t know who your source is, but I doubt any of my neighbors would tell you information about me that you would want to hear.” I doubt most of them would be able to string two words together in his formidable, shadowy presence.

“You’d be surprised what one can glean by simple observation.”

Actually, I wouldn’t. As a healer, part of my job is visually assessing patients to gather information.

“I don’t want to use my magic as a weapon,” I say with a shrug. “I just want to help people.”

“Sometimes, wielding a weapon is the best way to help someone.”

I snort and swirl the spoon once more. “Spoken like someone who defaults to violence before contemplating alternative methods of resolution.”

“Now who’s acting like they know the other?” he says, sounding bored.

He turns a page.

“Well, you did threaten my town.”

“And I’d do it again.” He lifts his eyes. “For Darius or the others, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do.”

I hold his stare. A spark of respect ignites.

“I understand. I’d do anything for Ferria.” I hesitate. “Even Lev.”

The mention of my lifelong friend and lover leaves a sour taste in my mouth, and I hate that. I turn back to Darius, scoop a small spoonful of broth, and let it cool before pressing it to his lips.

“You said that book was exactly what I needed to help Darius,” I say, trying to hide the heaviness from my voice. “Why?”

“Because it is.”

“Yes, thank you,” I sigh. “But how?”

“I’ll tell you when I find the relevant passage.”

I roll my eyes so hard I’m surprised I don’t see stars. “You’re frustrating.”

“I get that a lot, too.”

Despite myself, my lips twitch. I jerk my head and go back to coaxing another sip of broth into Darius’s mouth.

Seconds pass.

I glance over my shoulder. Rian’s gaze pins me in place, sharp and probing. It tugs at me, pulling me in a way I shouldn’t want. My magic pulses in my veins, and I tear my gaze away, chest heaving.

What was that?

A masculine throat clears. “Is Ferria your only sibling?”

“Yes. We’re twins,” I add, even though I’m sure he already knows. I wipe away the broth that spills from Darius’s lips. “She’s younger, but better than me in most ways.”