Page 175 of Prince of Darkness and Deceit

I squeeze her fingers. “You saved me.”

Her chest heaves. Then she releases a shaky breath and squeezes my fingers back. “Y-you’re okay?”

I nod. “You?”

“I’m fine.” She swallows thickly, then rolls back her shoulders. “Where have you been?”

I frown.

Does she not know?

I keep my voice even when I say, “I was locked in the barracks’ prison.”

She stiffens. “What?”

I shake my head and squeeze her hand again. “I’ll explain later. Right now, let’s get out of here.”

I turn to assess the clearing.

Half of the human soldiers who had been fighting when I arrived are gone. But so, too, are several Fae. Only, they didn’t leave behind bodies.

And I suspect I know why.

“This way.” Ferria tugs my hand, leading me toward the opulent tent.

She steps carefully around the fallen humans.

We don’t make it five feet before fingers slide into my hair and agony radiates over my scalp. I scream as I’m yanked back.

“Lara!” Ferria shouts.

Another soldier tackles Ferria, wrapping meaty arms around her and dragging her away.

“No!” she cries.

“Ferria!” I claw at my captor’s grip, drawing blood.

“AH!” he screams. “Bitch!”

He knees my back. My muscles spasm, and I collapse. Before I can hit the ground, the man hauls me against his chest. Magic flies to my sore muscles, flowing between the striated tissue to alleviate the worst of my pain.

Wait…my magic!

I draw my power forward, coaxing it from my veins, urging it to the surface of my skin.

Movement catches my attention. Soldiers flee into the forest’s dark depths, shouting commands that are lost in the chaos.

Relief that some men will survive this atrocious mistake flickers in my mind before all thoughts except freeing myself fade.

Power continues to rise.

Ferria shouts in pain.

Heat surges within me until it is so intense, so all-encompassing, that I cannot hold it in anymore.

One second, I blink away pained tears caused by the strike to my back. The next, I explode.

White light, scorching and volatile, shoots out of me in every direction. I squeeze my eyes shut. I don’t realize I’m screaming until my throat begins to ache.