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Silas takes my hand pulling me to him. He grips my chin and forces me to look into his snake-like eyes. Abigail’s heart rate is beating so hard I’m surprised she hasn’t fainted in her panic.

“You lied to me, you said she was Fae,” he says, gripping my chin tighter between his fingers.

“You would have killed her and her family.”

“What makes you think I still won’t?” he says, his eyes darting to my lips. His arm wraps around my waist pulling me closer, my body now flush against his.

“Because you don’t need to, Silas. She is no threat to anyone,” I whisper. He growls softly, tugging my face closer. I feel his breath move across my lips. His scent overwhelms me when he kisses me softly. His tongue runs across my bottom lip, wanting access. My lips part and he groans, plunging his tongue into my mouth, tasting every inch of it before pulling away, leaving me breathless.

“Open the gates,” he says, turning to another guard who nods and obeys his command. The gates open and Abigail rushes out.

“Matitus will go with you, so your mother can get out,” he says. Abigail nods.

“Get her mother out,” he says to Matitus. Matitus nods, following Abigail.

“What are you going to do?”

“Nothing, Elora. You said they aren’t a threat. So, I’m trusting you,” he says, pecking my lips. Dragus steps closer to me, his fingers brushing the back of my neck, making me glance at him over my shoulder.

“Come on, it’s cold,” Dragus says, looking toward the castle. Marian is already walking ahead and is nearly at the doors. When I go to follow her, I hear someone call out my name. Turning, I spot Lilith by herself standing across the road. She still has the same clothes on from when I last saw her, though now they are stained and dirty, her hair oily. I smile, rushing over to her.

“Lilith, where is your mother?” I ask, looking around for anyone who resembles her. Lilith is shaking from the cold, and I pull off the cloak I’m wearing and drape it over her.

“Where is your mom?” I ask her, hugging her and trying to warm her. Lilith shakes her head, making me pull back.

“She died, she got sick, and I couldn’t find medicine,” Lilith says, tears running down her cheeks.

“What about the rest of your family, your dad?” she shakes her head. “What are you doing here?” I ask, trying to find someone she might have been with.

“I was looking for food. The dumpsters over here sometimes have good things in them,” she tells me. A hand is placed on my back and intuitively I know it is Dragus. I peer up at him. Lilith does too, before stepping back. I scoop her up, not wanting to leave her out in the elements alone and hungry. Turning around, I glance at Dragus, he says nothing, just looks over his shoulder at Silas who is watching us. Silas turns around and starts walking inside, though he doesn’t say I can’t bring her, so I start following after him. I walk across the road when Dragus pulls Lilith from me. I peer up at him, worried he is going to make me leave her, but he keeps walking with Lilith in his arms.

Lilith looks unsure and fearful in his arms however, she says nothing. Coming inside, Silas is waiting by the door. Dragus places Lilith on the ground and she rushes over to me, grabbing my shirt and peering up at Silas. He stares back at her like he doesn’t know what to do with her.

“Where have you been staying?” I ask, staring down at her. She takes her eyes off Silas, looking up at me.

“With some other kids in the fabric warehouse. It has power there, the entire city has power now,” she says excitedly. I smile down at her.

“So, there are more kids there?”

She nods and my heart clenches. Dragus holds his hand out to her, she hesitates, placing her tiny hand in his. One of the maids comes out and Silas calls out to her. The woman creeps over nervously.

“Find her some clean clothes and set up a room for the girl,” he tells her, and she nods, smiling down at Lilith.

“Come, let’s make you something to eat,” Dragus says to her, as they wander off toward the kitchen, Lilith looking over her shoulder at me; I nod encouragingly to her.

I turn to Silas, who is watching me silently. My thoughts go to the other children Lilith mentioned.

Silas cups my cheek, his thumb brushing my cheek bone.

“Say it,” he says, his eyes carefully watching me.

“The other kids,” I start to say though I know he won’t agree.

“You want to help them?” he says, making my eyes dart to his and I nod. He kisses me softly, turning and grabbing another cloak, draping it over my shoulders.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“You need to come, too; they will run from me,” he says, opening the door and motioning for me to go out. I dart out the door, and Silas grabs my hand, holding it in his.