Page 164 of Prince of Darkness and Deceit

“I love you, Juniper.”

“And I love you, Elara.” She draws me into her chest.

I maneuver myself so I’m still hovering over her, still protecting her from the worst of the falling debris.

“Touching,” Silas calls out over the crashing stone and billowing dust. “But unwarranted. No one dies in this cell today.”

I look over Juniper’s head with a scowl. “You can’t possibly⁠—”

CRASH!

The door bursts open. Wood shards soar into the air and land at the end of the hall separating the cell from the exit.

Thick, dark shadows flow into the cell, snaking up the walls and coating the ceiling, suppressing any further debris from falling. I stare at the magic in awe, and my heart begins to race.

He came for me.

Rian.

I thought he left. I thought I was alone.

My grip on Juniper slides to her shoulders. I tuck her into my side as the shadows do their work. I marvel at the seemingly limitless use of the Fae’s dark power.

Once the ceiling is reinforced, the shadows solidify. Then heavy footsteps pound toward us.

Anticipation coils tightly in my ribs. My heart beats against my sternum. I force myself to straighten, spine stiffening as I turn toward the door. A sudden ache claws at me to lay eyes on the formidable Fae.

A figure emerges, features distorted by the cloud of dust still lingering in the air.

“It’s about damn time.” Silas claps his hands once, then adds, “Took you long enough.”

“There were important matters to handle first.”

The voice freezes me. My pulse stutters, then blood roars in my ears. The voice is familiar…but it’s not Rian.

The figure steps forward, and the haze falls away, his features sharpening into clarity.

My stomach drops, my jaw along with it.

“Anton?” The name tears from my throat.

Ferria’s apprentice stands at the metal bars, wearing a sheepish grin that would be charming if it didn’t feel like I cannot trust a single thing about my life.

Not when I notice his ears.

His very pointed ears.

“Hello, Elara.”

32

The world as I know it crumbles like the debris surrounding me. The ground tilts, the air feels heavier, and my chest constricts painfully.

I stare at Anton, the young man I’ve known for years. The man I trusted. He stood at my sister’s side in the forge, sweat and steel binding him to our family, weaving himself effortlessly into our affections. And everything…every smile, every laugh, every lingering look Ferria’s way… It all was a lie.

Shock gives way to hurt. Hurt burns into anger.

I latch onto the fiery emotion and finally manage to choke out, “What are you doing here?”