Page 144 of Prince of Darkness and Deceit

Footsteps precede the arrival of a broad man, one I wish I didn’t know.

Ice floods my veins, locking my muscles in place. “You.”

Fief’s battered face breaks into a cold, cruel smile. “Me.”

My thoughts spin.

Fief abducted me. For retribution for the Fae beating him?

No, that can’t be it.

The presence of the human rebel confirms I’m in the barracks’ dungeon.

Fief wouldn’t bring me somewhere someone else would see me. Not if it weren’t an order. Which means…

Shit.

“Brother Fief.” I lift my chin, hoping to hide how my entire body shakes. “What am I doing here?”

“You’re clever, Healer Stonebloom,” he replies, his voice as cold as his eyes. “Why don’t you take a guess?”

I press my lips together. I refuse to play his game.

“Let me go,” I demand.

“Not until we get what we want.”

My forehead furrows. I ignore the fresh wave of pain the expression sends through my skull. “Who’s ‘we’?”

“Those of us determined to ensure humans are no longer subjected to the whims and cruelty of the Fae.”

Rebels.

How do the rebels have access to the barracks? Why would they bother to kidnap me?

My temple throbs in time with my racing pulse. “There’s been a mistake. I shouldn’t be here.”

“Trust me, Elara.” Fief says my name with blatant disdain. “You are exactly where you should be.”

My skin crawls, and desperation rises.

Chains hold me in place, but even if they didn’t, I have no hope of trying to fight my way out of this situation.

I’m screwed.

A groan cuts through the silence. My gaze snaps to the rebel. He’s still unconscious, but his face contorts, features tightening in raw pain. He’s coming around.

I turn back to Fief. “What do you want from me?”

His smile twists into a leer. “Ah, that’s the question you should’ve asked from the start.”

He steps closer to the bars, and I’m suddenly grateful for the barrier.

“Tell us about the Shadow Prince.”

I blink. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” he growls. “Our spies have confirmed the Shadow Prince travels with the Fae soldiers you serve. Now, tell us what you know of him.”