Page 54 of Prince of Darkness and Deceit

My magic lies dormant, but it’s finally recovered from coming into contact with the curse wrecking Darius’s body.

It’s strange. Before, I always felt my magic. I knew it was inside me, coiled tight, content to sleep until it deigned to assist me when I called. But now? My awareness of the magic I’ve worked to understand is heightened. I sense what it’s feeling. Its…emotions? Does magic have emotions?

As children, under the cover of night, Ferria and I used to talk about our magic in low, fervent whispers. How it worked. What it felt like to use it. But we never discussed it in the open, not even in front of Juniper. The chances of being overheard in our own home were low, but never zero. And the risk of discovery was far too great.

We haven’t discussed our powers with each other in a while. I wonder if things are different for her now. I wonder if, like me, the sensation of her magic has changed. Or if I’m the only one.

I lean against the nightstand, careful not to knock anything off the surface, and rest the book on my knees.

Thoughts flow in and out of focus. My eyelids droop as I scan the Fae text, but I can last a few more minutes before I’ll need to return home and find Lev. If he’s not already waiting for me…

I wake to silence. Complete, total silence.

I sit up and rub my eyes.

The flame in the oil lamp flickers low, casting the tent in dim hues of brown, red, and orange. Darius’s quiet breaths remain steady next to me.

I lean forward and wince as a sharp sting zips through my numb legs. When the sensation abates, I rise to my feet and pick up the book, sliding it into my satchel.

Where is Jaxon?

I have no idea how much time has passed, but the lack of daylight shining through the tent opening tells me it's much longer than the few minutes I asked for.

Shouldering my satchel, I exit the tent. What I see makes me stop in my tracks.

The clearing is empty.

Red embers burn in the firepit closest to me. A sword rests against a stump, one that’s used as a seat. But the soldiers… They’re gone.

My spine tingles with awareness. I turn in a slow circle. Beyond the treeline, in the depths of the forest, something watches me once more. And my gut tells me it’s not a Fae.

Slowly, I step back to hide away in the tent to wait for Jaxon to come for me. But then a golden hue catches my eye.

There.

A tent tucked behind the larger one. Its fabric is dark, blending in with the night. But through a gap at the opening, the faint glow of a lantern shines out.

I swallow.

It’s closer to the tree line than the tent Darius rests in, but there are still several feet between it and the ominous forest. And I need to find someone. I can’t return home without help.

I tighten my hold on my satchel strap and move toward the tent. As I draw closer, I realize it’s not the fabric that’s dark. Rather, slithering shadows cover the exterior. The Fae power glides and swirls, and gaps reveal a tent that’s actually taupe—the same as the other tents spread throughout the clearing.

I take a deep breath and reach out to part the fabric and duck inside. A short, relieved breath puffs from my lips.

Rian is sprawled out on a cot that’s much smaller than Darius’s. His long legs hang off the edge. The thin blanket lying on top of him hangs halfway to the ground, revealing a loose black shirt covering his torso and the same trousers he wore earlier today.

A washbasin with a tarnished-looking glass sits on top of a wooden trunk. A desk covered with scrolls and pieces of parchment sits on the opposite side.

I look at the uncovered floor, noting the grass that’s already browned from being hidden from the sun. There’s not a single item in here that is as opulent as those in Darius’s tent.

Who is Darius to these Fae? Is he more than just a trusted friend?

Rian shifts.

I stiffen. He rolls onto his side. The blanket falls to the floor. His features slacken. Looks are deceiving, especially with Fae. These males could be hundreds of years old. But right now, with his face free of lines and no shadows cutting his features, Rian looks young. And…incredibly attractive.

His strong brow hovers over long lashes. His pink lips part as he exhales. The skin pulling over his strong jaw and cheeks is smooth. Flawless.