Page 244 of Captive of Secrets and Storms

A feeling I’m sure is right.

Rian exhales a heavy breath loaded with unspoken words. “What else did the voice say?”

My gut clenches. This is the part where my sanity might be questioned.

“‘I am all those who came before,’” I murmur, searching his stoic features for a reaction. “Do you…do you think it means my power once belonged to someone else?”

Throughout my story, Rian kept his composure.

But at that question, shadows snap from his back. One tendril whips out and strikes the table littered with maps, knocking it on its side with a crash.

I jerk away, but Rian’s hands hold me steady.

All warmth drains from his face as the mask of the Shadow Prince falls into place.

“Rian?” My stomach tightens. “What’s wrong?”

A haunted shadow flickers across his stare, but it’s gone in a blink. “Nothing I can tell you right now.”

I pin him with a determined stare. “You’re hiding something from me.”

Again.

His thumb continues to stroke my cheek. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to slaughter the entire crew on this ship on the off chance one of them overhears us. We need them for the journey ahead.”

My jaw drops. “You can’t be serious.”

“On the contrary, Elara.” Flecks of blue peek through his dark irises. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do to ensure your safety.”

The violent promise should horrify me.

Instead, warmth unfurls in my chest.

Gods save me…

I’m a mess.

Rian’s hand moves to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear before sliding down to rest at the curve where my neck meets my shoulder.

“I heard you speaking with Erik,” he says. “About Helen.”

I blink at the abrupt shift in conversation. “What about her?”

“I owe you an apology.” The muscle in his jaw ticks. “I’m the reason she alerted Erik to your presence in Virendrell.”

“Because of Iris?”

Helen made it clear she wanted Rian to be with her daughter.

But is she truly so wicked that she would allow enemies into her beloved city just to get me out of the picture?

Rian isn’t that much of a catch.

Liar.