Page 60 of Prince of Darkness and Deceit

Their tense stare-off continues for another second.

Then Jaxon looks away, and his posture relaxes. “As I said, nothing. A thorny bush snagged my tunic in the forest. Which is a shame. It’s one of my favorites.”

He tugs at the center of the midnight-black shirt, identical to every tunic he’s worn since I’ve met him.

I cross my arms, not willing to let him dodge my questions that easily. “Why were you in the forest?”

You were supposed to escort me home.

His easygoing expression flickers before he reinforces it. “Relieving myself.”

The way his eyes dart to Rian exposes the lie, and I can’t shake the distinct impression that he’s shielding me from some sort of secret. Or plan.

“Are you ready to return home?” Jaxon asks before I can call him out on the lie. “Or are you in need of a cot tonight? If so, I’m willing to share mine.”

My lips part, and heat blooms in my cheeks.

Rian snaps, “Knock it off, Jax.”

“Sorry.” Jaxon chuckles. “I couldn’t resist.”

He doesn’t sound sorry at all.

I dart my eyes between the Fae. Rian avoids my gaze, his hard stare trained on the tent flap, as if searching for whatever mysterious threat caused the cut on his friend’s arm.

“Well?” Jaxon breaks the silence.

I tear my gaze from Rian, frowning at the amused glint in Jaxon’s eyes. “Well, what?”

“Are you ready to go home?”

Yes…and no.

I can’t help myself—I glance at Rian. Shadows coil around his shoulders like smoke, flickering and fading with a brewing storm he keeps buried beneath his composed exterior. I want answers, but I’m no fool. Neither of the males in this tent is inclined to tell me anything. Not tonight.

“Let’s go,” I say, moving past Jaxon, ignoring the burn of Rian’s stare between my shoulder blades.

I step out of the tent and freeze. “What the⁠—”

The clearing was empty when I woke up. There wasn’t a soldier in sight. All the fires were dying embers.

Now?

Flames roar in the firepits, and dozens of Fae soldiers are spread throughout the clearing. Some talk quietly, their voices low and lips unreadable. Others sleep, their faces veiled by a cloth over their eyes, like they’ve been here all along.

But they haven’t. I know they haven’t.

Jaxon appears beside me. “Elara? Are you okay?”

I stare, my pulse skittering. How did the entire squad appear without a sound? And why didn’t any of them react to Jaxon arriving after clearly being in a fight of some kind?

Something’s wrong. Very wrong.

And the way Jaxon watches me, a dark shadow in his eyes…he knows I’ve noticed.

I swallow my rising fear. “Yeah…I’m okay.”

He waits, giving me a chance to say more.