Page 104 of Captive of Secrets and Storms

Anders holds Rian’s malevolent stare. “Forgive me. I assumed since you were preoccupied with Lady Iris, I would ensure Elara’s time here was not spent idly.”

My magic hisses like a feral beast. I press my lips together and clench my fists.

You don’t care what he does, Elara.

That’s a lie.

Gods… Why is that a lie?

Rian’s dark eyes harden. Pressure builds against my skin, a sensation undeniably similar to how it feels when his shadows roil and writhe off his body.

“Come here, Elara.”

I flinch as Rian extends a hand and crooks his fingers at me, beckoning as though I’m a dog.

Red clouds my vision. “No.”

“No?” He tilts his head.

A section of black hair falls over his eye.

I have the sudden, violent urge to rip it free from his scalp. “Why are you here? Don’t you have more to tour?”

Rian’s mouth curves. “Keeping tabs on me, Sunshine?”

“In your dreams.”

The air draws tight between us.

His smirk stretches into something lazier. More dangerous.

“Oh, Elara,” he murmurs. “You have no idea.”

My pulse stutters. I tighten my grip on the book, clutching it to my chest like a shield.

“Come,” he prompts again.

This time, softness creeps into his expression, making it seem less like an order and more like a request.

“You aren’t required to go anywhere,” Anders cuts in, apparently willing to absorb the Shadow Prince’s wrath for my sake.

But why?

I barely know Anders.

Is he truly that honorable? Or does he have another motive?

A throat clears sharply, slicing through the tension before it can snap.

A young woman in a pale-blue toga and gold sandals stands at the end of the aisle, shifting nervously as her gaze flicks between Anders, Rian, and me.

“Excuse me, Lord Anders.” Her voice is soft, hesitant. “Mayor Augustus is requesting your assistance.”

“Assistance?” Anders straightens. “With what?”

“One of the morning’s contestants, sir.” Her eyes dart to Rian, then to me, before snapping back to the palace healer. “Their injuries are more…debilitating than anticipated.”

Anders mutters a curse and turns to me. “My apologies, Elara. I must⁠—”