Page 26 of Prince of Darkness and Deceit

“Not by a blade.”

I look over my shoulder and lift a brow. “Was he injured by anything else?”

He crosses his arms. “You tell me.”

I grit my teeth. “How do you expect me to heal him if I don’t know what happened?”

“You don’t need to know what happened in order to help him. Trust me.”

I can’t help it—I snort. “Trust you? After you just dragged me here against my will?”

“You accepted the deal.”

“A deal I obviously didn’t understand.”

“No?” He smirks. “Well, that’s a shame. Because you will be held to it regardless.”

The base of my throat warms.

My hands fly to my neck. My eyes widen. “What did you do to me?”

The warmth fades.

The Fae’s stare is unwavering. “We made a deal. Now, see to your patient.”

I swallow down the questions building in my throat, along with my renewed fear. I take a fortifying breath and turn to reassess the patient.

While his skin is sickly gray, his lips are moist and a healthy pink color. His cheekbones are a little sharp, but I can’t tell if it’s from lack of food or great genetics.

I reach out a hand. A growl sounds. I draw back and look over my shoulder. Draven’s eyes swirl with violent shadows as they meet mine.

“I need to check his vitals,” I force out.

Another growl rumbles in his throat. I think he’s going to object, but then his nostrils flare and he nods.

With a ragged exhale, I turn and slowly reach out to press my fingertips against the male’s throat. The moment my tingling fingers touch his skin, coldness sears into my arm like flames.

I yelp and pull back. Only…I can’t.

My fingers are glued to the Fae’s neck. A frigid blaze travels through my body, into my chest, my mind, and a dark haze hovers over my vision.

A scream builds, but I can’t open my mouth to release it.

Fire that is as cold as ice burns me from the inside. Steam coils out of my nostrils. The magic within me writhes and recoils. It’s hurting—dying. I don’t know how I know it, but I do.

The one thing that gives my life purpose is being destroyed, and there isn’t anything I can do to stop it.

6

Blood roars in my ears as my magic cries out for help.

Darkness continues to creep over my eyes. Pressure like thousands of needles digs into my skin where I touch the Fae, but I cannot pull away from the male. Something holds me hostage. Something is determined to destroy me.

My lungs tighten, each desperate breath too shallow.

Panic claws up my throat.

Then—