Page 202 of Prince of Darkness and Deceit

There are so many things to explain, and I vow to share all I know one day soon, but for now, I must stay in Verdanthia. There are things to be finished. Once they are, I will come find you.

Until then, stay safe. Stay with the Fae.

With the love of The Mother,

Juniper

I snort. Stay with the Fae and stay safe are two contradictory statements. If Juniper were here, I’d tell her as much. But she’s not. She’s chosen to stay behind despite the risk.

I want to demand Anton go back and drag her here if he has to. But as much as I loathe the idea of leaving Juniper behind, traveling through Gods know what terrain and sleeping in tents would be hard on her aging body.

I just pray to Olyra that she holds my adoptive mother’s fate close and keeps her safe.

Anton shifts his feet once more then clears his throat. “We should get going if we wish to reach our destination by nightfall.”

Ferria doesn’t move. “You haven’t told me where we’re going.”

“I’m sorry…I can’t.” Anton looks at the dark forest over his shoulder.

Who is he worried will hear? The monsters?

I almost dismiss the idea, but then the intelligence in the natchling’s eyes flashes in my memory. It lured me into the burning house and set up the perfect conditions for an attack.

Maybe I should take care with what I say around those dark trees, too…

“What about Verdanthia?” I ask Anton. “Are there enough soldiers left to protect them from the beasts in the forest?”

Or are we leaving hundreds of innocents unprotected from the sharp claws and fangs of the monsters roaming the woods?

Anton’s eyes shift to the clearing for a split second before returning to mine. “Verdanthia is warded against the beasts. For now, they won’t be able to cross the town’s borders.”

Unbidden, Rian’s offer to protect the town replays in my mind.

He’s honoring his promise.

I quickly squash any positive thought that tries to form about the Shadow Fae. I won’t fall for his antics. Not again.

Relief for Verdanthia is swiftly replaced by the gnawing dread of journeying through these same woods for Gods know how long.

I seize Ferria, dragging her into a fierce embrace.

“You better be safe,” I demand, resting my chin on her shoulder, holding tight.

I don’t know what I’m going to do when we are separated. We’ve never been apart for more than a few days.

Ferria rests her head against mine. “You, too.”

We stand like that for several long seconds, clinging to each other as if we can will the world to stay still. I pour every ounce of love I have into my sister. I hope she feels it in her bones. My magic slips free and threads through her veins before I can stop it.

Ferria’s power greets mine at once—vast, blazing, unyielding. The sheer strength of it makes me stagger.

Relief softens my shoulders. She is strong. She will endure. We both will.

The clank of armor and the muted rustle of canvas shatter the fragile moment. We turn toward the clearing where shadow soldiers move in silence.

Rian summoned the eerie army back at dawn, his onyx shadows somehow solid enough to enable them to break down the remnants of the Fae camp with synchronicity and precision.

Metal glints in the pale light as the conjured figures pack supplies into three dark trunks. Horses snort and stamp beside a waiting wagon, their breaths misting in the cool air.