Page 152 of Prince of Darkness and Deceit

These men don’t know the Fae at all.

“I am not privy to their secrets. The Fae treated me kindly, that is true, but only because I was helping them.”

“You don’t expect us to believe the males kept their mouths shut around their latest plaything? Surely you heard them talk.”

I seethe. “I am no one’s plaything.”

“No?” He fakes an apologetic wince. “Forgive me. I just assumed you were spreading your legs for them, given how you ended your courtship with Lev Ironheart just minutes before the Fae arrived at the festival.”

My cheeks heat with a mix of fury and mortification.

Knowing nothing I say will convince him he’s mistaken, I keep my mouth shut, content to shoot hateful daggers at the misogynistic captain.

“Maybe we’re wrong,” General Ironheart says. “Maybe you weren’t sleeping with the bastards.”

“I was helping Verdanthia,” I snap. “I made a deal to save everyone from the Fae’s wrath. Or did you forget how I spoke up when they first arrived?”

“We did not forget,” the general replies, eyes hard, assessing. “It was brave to offer your services for the good of the town. But tell me…what happened in that clearing in the forest? Why don’t you fear the Fae?”

“Maybe because they are not the ones who have me chained to a wall!”

Ironheart’s eyes flash, and he takes a menacing step forward.

I have the distinct impression that if there weren’t a wall of bars between us, he’d strike me.

“This is not a game, Elara. Tell us what you know or⁠—”

“Or what? You’ll kill me? Beat me?” I keep my eyes locked on his, even though self-preservation wants to cower beneath his formidable glare. “You can do whatever you’d like to me, General, but it doesn't change the fact that I. Do. Not. Know. Anything.”

The following silence is heavy. Ominous. I brace for retribution, for these two powerful men to believe I truly know nothing and then decide I’m a liability while I still draw breath.

I think of Ferria…of Juniper. I pray they escape the repercussions of my actions. That my mistake won’t draw attention to my twin and reveal her secret. I pray they both are safe.

A throat clears down the hall. “General Ironheart?”

A soldier appears. It’s Fredrik, the scout who ran into the market and spread word that the Fae were spotted in the forest. The young man’s eyes flit from the captain to the general with unease, revealing he hasn’t adjusted to whatever misdeeds he’s been roped into.

“What is it?” Lev’s father growls, begrudgingly tearing his glare off of me.

Fredrik rocks back on his heels. “It’s the Elders, sir. They’ve called an emergency meeting.”

“Of course they have,” Steelvice mutters. “The cowards must’ve heard the news.”

The general grunts. His eyes slide back to mine. Again, I hold his stare even as my hands start to tremble.

After several prolonged seconds, he turns away. “We will resume the interrogation tomorrow.”

I don’t know if he’s speaking to me or the captain, but I don’t care. The instant the three men stomp down the corridor and a door slams shut, tremors seize me.

I clutch my arms around my stomach, as if I can hold myself together by sheer force.

This can’t be a rebel operation. The general wouldn’t be part of it. Would he?

“You lied.”

I gasp and snap my head toward Silas. He’s wide awake now, eyes glittering in the dim light.

I stare at the abused human, my mind slow to catch up with his words through the turmoil twisting inside me.