Page 128 of Prince of Darkness and Deceit

He grabs my wrist—not harshly, but enough to halt my retreat. “I am protecting them. I’m protecting you. You don’t understand the bigger picture⁠—”

“No,” I cut in, yanking free. “What I understand is that you’re a stubborn, arrogant fool who refuses to believe he could be wrong. You’ve always said you care about my opinion, but you didn’t even talk to me about this. You just…you just want me to agree with you and fall in line.”

His face twists, wounded. “That’s not true⁠—”

“Yes, it is.” I think of his Kinless comments.

The way he so rarely stood up to his father when he badmouthed me. How he looks the other way when innocent women are treated like dirt, even abused by their husbands.

My eyes burn. “You don’t respect me, Lev. You never have. Not really.”

He looks as if I’ve struck him.

My heart aches. Lev loves me, but he isn’t the man who will go against the status quo to do what’s right. And now, involving himself in the rebellion and supporting a decision that will put so many innocents in harm's way… It’s not something I can overlook.

All around me, the festival continues, unaware of how my world tilts on its axis.

“We’re drawing eyes,” Lev murmurs.

Moisture shimmers in his gaze.

“Do whatever you want, Lev. But leave me out of it. We’re done.”

I turn on my heel and push through the celebratory crowd. My lungs burn. My throat tightens. I need to be alone. I need quiet. I need to take a moment to process what the hells I just heard and figure out how to reassemble my heart that’s crumbling to pieces.

I slip between two vendor stalls, barely registering the delicious aroma of caramelized fruit floating in the air. I reach the market’s edge and veer left, determined to go home and wallow in my emotions.

The shadows around me pulse. Then a voice purrs behind me, rich and amused. Predatory.

“Well, that was quite a show.”

My skirt flares as I whirl around.

Rian stands there, half lit by torchlight, the rest of him swallowed in the darkness between two buildings. His silver eyes catch the glow, sharp as blades.

The shadows on my arms coil and slither in his presence.

“Wh-what are you doing here?” I ask, breathless. Then his words sink in, and my stomach plummets. “Wait…what did you⁠—”

“I heard everything, Sunshine.” He steps closer, shadows unfurling like smoke around his boots.

His midnight-black tunic and trousers blend in with the night.

“Or rather…” His lips curve into a wicked smile. “My shadows heard everything.”

My breath catches.

The rebellion... The war... Rian heard it all.

“Please.” My voice shakes, but I force myself to meet his glowing stare. “Don’t hurt him. I’ll…I’ll do anything.”

I hate Lev’s choices. I despise them, but I still care. I can’t let the Fae rip him apart.

Rian’s expression darkens, shadows surging in response to his mood.

“You’d bargain for him?” His voice is low, dangerous, as if testing the weight of my desperation.

Of course I would. I’d bargain for almost anyone in my town. That’s who I am.