Page 1 of Prince of Darkness and Deceit

1

Life dealt me a shitty hand, and the Gods “blessing” me with some mysterious power only makes matters worse. Because in Verdanthia, magic is forbidden—a death sentence.

But as a human living by the mercy of the Shadow Fae, I’ll be damned if I let fear keep me from using the only edge I have to help those in need.

Besides, it’s not like this is the first time I’ve stood toe-to-toe with death.

And it won’t be the last.

My dark thoughts float away as the burn on the young, muscular man in front of me bubbles, the sickly sweet aroma churning my typically strong stomach.

My childhood friend grins as if I won’t notice he’s hiding a grimace.

“I’ve already told you, Elara,” Lev says, his tree-bark-colored eyes warm with affection that makes my heart squeeze. “It’s just a small burn. No need to look so serious.”

I retrieve a fresh cloth from my satchel and dip it into the wooden cup on the table beside me. “And I’ve already told you—infection is the cause of most deaths in town. You need to be more careful.”

It’ll be another week before the tradesmen return and I can buy more sterilizing solutions. I’ll prepare an herbal remedy for Lev later, but mead will have to do for now.

I lean forward, resting one foot on the ground to keep from falling off the rickety stool, and press the cloth along the edges of the burn.

Lev’s chuckle morphs into a hiss. “By the Gods, Elara. Warn me next time.”

I snort. “Silly me; I thought after treating dozens of your injuries over the years, you’d know what to expect.”

He mumbles something about “bossy healer” before wincing when I dab the cloth along his burn, moistening the charred flesh.

Magic flickers at my fingertips, but I coax it back. Lev’s burn isn’t severe enough to risk draining the delicate power or myself—no matter how much I hate seeing him in pain.

“So…” I dip the cloth into the cup again and clean the wound with slow, careful strokes. “What brilliant soldierly task were you accomplishing today for the Gods to give you this injury?”

“Same old,” he grits through clenched teeth. His head falls back to rest on the wooden table he lies on. “Patrolling the mines.”

“Did Giles run into a burning tree?”

Giles is his horse—one of the few majestic, expensive beasts we have in town.

“No. Dian threw a torchlight at me.”

“What?” I draw my hands away from his tender flesh and sit back on the wobbly stool. “Why?”

He shrugs one shoulder. “I may have made a lewd remark about his betrothed.”

“Ah, so you deserved this burn.”

His gaze snaps to mine. “I’ll have you know that my remark was absolutely warranted.”

“Was it?”

“Yes.”

“How so?”

“Dian questioned your virtue.” His voice strains. “I had to defend your honor.”

My lips turn down. “By insulting his betrothed?”

“It was all I could think of at the time…”