Page 98 of Prince of Darkness and Deceit

“And it’s a shame that good men stand by while the bad ones abuse the fact they’re bigger and stronger to make us do their bidding.”

And we both know I’m not just talking about a curfew.

“I know.” He runs a hand through his hair, his composure fraying. “I know, Elara. But what did you want me to do? Start a fight with my superior? Risk being thrown in a cell?”

“I wanted all the men in that tavern to stand up to him. To stand up to any man who is in the wrong.”

“Like Fief ?” His voice sharpens.

My eyes narrow.

“You heard what happened to him,” he adds.

I school my features. I won’t give him anything.

“I’m the one who found him,” I say, though I’m sure he already knows that.

“You helped him?” His brows lift.

My spine prickles. “I’m a healer. Of course I helped him.”

Helped, yes—but only enough to keep him breathing.

Lev’s arms fall to his sides. “Good.”

“What, exactly, are you implying with these questions, Lev?”

“You’re too smart to not already know.”

I grit my teeth. “Pretend I’m not.”

“Gods, Elara, what is going on?” He shakes his head, looking at me as if I’m a stranger. “Do you think the town doesn’t know about your tiff with Brother Fief when you healed his son?”

I bristle. “It wasn’t a tiff.”

“Whatever you want to call it, people talk. And everyone knows you get along with the Fae. People are saying you sent them after Fief.”

A sharp laugh tears from my throat. “Fae don’t take orders from humans.”

Why would they? We’re weaker. They view us as inferior. At least…that’s what I thought.

“The tall one did.” Lev’s features darken. “In the tavern.”

Rian.

His image flashes across my mind—unmoving, unreadable, terrifying.

My heart stutters.

“If Rian listened to me,” I say carefully, “it’s because it was something he already intended to do.”

He shakes his head with a disbelieving snort. “You need to be careful, Elara. With revelers from other towns arriving, there’s going to be a lot of people around and not enough soldiers. If rumors about your relationship with the Fae get out, I can’t guarantee someone won’t try to hurt you.”

My blood runs cold, but then it steams with a fresh wave of anger. “Warning received. Now, if you don’t mind, I have work to do before I go try to save Verdanthia by helping the Fae. Convenient, don’t you think, that the stories about me never highlight that fact.”

Most of the town was in the meeting hall the day the Fae arrived. They heard the Fae accuse us of aiding the rebellion. Every soul in that building heard the deal they offered. They all saw me step up to try and save us. And now I’m the enemy?

Assholes.