Page 97 of Prince of Darkness and Deceit

I stiffen when he leans in to kiss my lips.

He draws back with a frown, but swiftly erases the expression when he turns to Juniper. “Hello, Mistress Fearnweaver.”

Juniper drags her eyes up and down his clean uniform and sniffs before turning to me. “Check on your sister today. That girl works herself to the bone.”

“Don’t worry. Anton looks out for her.”

“Oh, I’m sure he does.” Her eyes twinkle, but their light dims when Lev huffs an amused chuckle.

He drops his gaze to his shiny boots.

I sigh. “I’ll check on Ferria.”

“Thank you, sweetheart.” She pats my cheek. “I’ll see you at the festivities tomorrow.”

Juniper hobbles away, off to Gods know where.

As soon as she turns the corner, Lev grumbles, “She hates me.”

“No,” I reply reflexively. “She just…doesn’t like you?”

I wince. That sounds worse.

“She likes Anton.”

I tilt my head. “So?”

He crosses his arms and huffs. “Nothing. Forget I said anything.”

I purse my lips, then ask, “What are you doing here? I thought you were patrolling the mines today.”

“Good to know you still care enough to remember my assignments.”

It’s a fight to not roll my eyes. “Are you avoiding the question?”

“No. Gods. Relax, Elara.” He shifts his weight between his boots and shakes his head. “I was just relaying the general’s new orders to those soldiers. Assignments have been moved around to prepare for the celebration tomorrow night.”

I’ve had a pit in my stomach ever since the Elders declared the Late King’s Festival would continue even after the Fae arrived, but relief flows through me to hear they are taking security at the biggest party of the festival seriously.

When I don’t respond, Lev says in a low voice, “You’ve been avoiding me.”

“I’ve been busy.”

The crowd leaving the temple moves around us. Their eyes are bright, smiles wide. Praying in the temple relaxed them. But not me.

Lev’s brow pinches, eyes shadowed with something caught between frustration and regret. “Listen…I know I let you down. At the tavern.”

A bitter laugh escapes before I can stop it. “That’s one way to put it.”

His jaw clenches. “I thought you understood why I couldn’t go against Steelvice.”

I did. I do.

And yet knowing doesn’t make it easier to stomach the truth—that the only person who stood up for me that night wasn’t even human.

“It’s appalling how women are treated in Verdanthia,” I say, voice tight.

His gaze doesn’t waver. “I know.”