Page 216 of Captive of Secrets and Storms

A snarl tears from Rian’s throat.

A cloak of shadow rises into the air, floating to the lone torchlight, as if to cast us into darkness.

“Don’t kill the messenger.” Anders lifts his hands. “I’m simply trying to convey the need for urgency.”

The shadow recedes.

Rian rolls back his shoulders, then releases my hand and pushes me toward Anders. “Go.”

“Wait!” I stumble and pivot back around before I crash into the Mountain Fae. “What does this mean? Do pirates work with Sea Fae?”

“I don’t know, but I’ll find out.” He waves a hand to the open door. “Go with Anders. Stay with him. He will keep you safe.”

Anders reaches for me.

I jerk my elbow away.

“But I can help! We both can.” I glance at the Mountain Fae then face Rian. “We’re both healers. We should stay to help anyone injured in the pirates’ attack.”

“No,” Rian clips out, his tone hard. “While I admire your willingness to put yourself at risk for the sake of others, I’ve witnessed enough of that for one lifetime.”

I scowl. “I don’t do that.”

“No? What about the fire in Verdanthia?”

“This is different,” I insist, curling my hands into fists. “I can’t just leave when there are people who need my help.”

Not again.

Rian shifts closer.

I widen my stance, holding my ground, determined to withstand whatever he tries to say or do next to make me leave.

But I don’t expect him to cup the sides of my face with both hands and press his lips to mine.

My eyes flutter closed.

Warmth floods my body.

Anders’s sharp inhale sounds behind me, but the pulse pounding against my ears drowns it out.

Rian’s tongue slips past my lips, and a stroke of heat licks my core. I shift closer to deepen the kiss. He lets out a low, throaty groan.

Then, too soon, he draws back.

A mewl of protest falls from my lips.

“You will go with Anders.” Rian presses another gentle kiss against my mouth. “You will not allow a pirate or Sea Fae to get their hands on you.”

My eyelids part. Flecks of blue peek through his stormy stare.

“I can’t just leave.”

“You can.” He kisses me again. “And you will.”

My limbs are mush.

Rian pushes me back, and I land in Anders’s arms.