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Terran’s heart pounded in his chest. Was it her?

“Take off his mask!” Kenric shouted.

Terran stepped forward to the edge of the viewing stand, anxiously looking down into the courtyard.

The crowd shifted uneasily as people jostled for position to see the unveiling. The entire courtyard again became unnervingly, eerily quiet.

One of the guards reached forward and yanked the mask from the Midnight Shadow’s head.

Terran held his breath as the mask slid over the rebel’s neck, chin, nose, and finally off his head to reveal...

... Harry Delaney. Bria’s grandfather!

“It can’t be,” Kenric hissed. “He never could have overpowered the tax collectors.”

“He’s not the Midnight Shadow!” a voice called. “I am!”

Terran swiveled his head to see another Midnight Shadow standing at the outskirts of the crowd, sword at the ready.

Another Midnight Shadow!

Kenric fumed, “What’s going on? Get him!”

But even as soldiers pushed their way through the crowd, one peasant and then another pointed toward the crenels. Terran looked up to see a third Midnight Shadow. This one grabbed a nearby rope and swung down toward Harry, hitting two guards with his booted feet, knocking them down.

“Get them!” Kenric shouted. “Get them all!”

Terran’s gaze shifted to the second Midnight Shadow, who was engaged in battle with two guards. He was skillful enough to keep the two guards at bay, but there was something strange about the way he fought. His right arm wielded the sword expertly, but he never seemed to lift his left arm, either for balance or for form. It hung at his side like a useless thing. Had he been wounded already, or...

Realization rocked Terran. He knew of only one man who had a crippled arm. And if Bria’s grandfather was here, why not her father?

Terran’s gaze swiveled to Harry and the other Midnight Shadow at his side. This third Midnight Shadow was quite skilled. His thrusts and parries were timed to perfection. Or were they hers?

Terran’s jaw clenched as prickles raced across the back of his neck. He had to know. He leaped from the viewer’s platform, hit the ground and quickly moved forward, not taking his gaze from the Midnight Shadow beside Harry. A guard stumbled back from the fight and into Terran’s path. Terran grabbed him by his tunic and shoved him out of the way.

The Midnight Shadow deflected a blow and countered with another, driving another guard back. Then he turned with his sword raised and came face to face with Terran.

Terran wasn’t surprised by what he saw. Crystal blue eyes gazed at him through the two slits in the mask. The bluest eyes he had ever seen. God’s blood! Why didn’t I see it before?

Bria. His heart ached to hold her and touch her. But as long as she stayed hidden behind the mask of his enemy, he could only stare.

Behind her, one of the guards lifted his weapon to strike her down.

Chapter forty-two

Terran lurched forward, lifting his blade to block the blow and then knock the guard’s sword aside, saving the Midnight Shadow’s life. Saving Bria’s life.

He shoved the guard away in disgust, then looked back at his black-cloaked enemy. His lover.

She said nothing as she slowly lowered her weapon.

He raised his sword and placed the tip to her neck. Which one would she be when he unmasked her? Enemy or lover?

The fighting around them seemed to slow, the noise lowering to a whisper, the figures fading into a hazy blur.

Bria lowered her weapon even further until the tip was almost touching the ground. Terran’s heart ached. He could see the dazzling blue of her eyes shining at him from the dark holes in her mask. He could see the sadness in them, the pain, the anguish. But behind it all, her inner fire burned bright. If he captured her, he would be sentencing her to death. The flame would be extinguished forever, the only flame that could ever warm his cold heart.

“Well done, cousin,” Kenric said, approaching from the viewer’s platform. “Unmask him.”