Page 50 of Prince of Darkness and Deceit

I return my attention to the book and focus on the depicted berry bush, squinting, trying to identify the species.

A blur of brown flashes in my peripheral vision.

My head snaps up, and I slam the book closed. “Hello?”

With my heart thumping, I scan the tent and subtly tuck the book under the cot. No one is here.

My forehead furrows. I swear I saw some⁠—

“AH!” A scream rips from my throat, and I scramble upright, tripping over my skirt as a rodent the length of my arm darts across the rug.

My stomach churns as the creature snatches the stale bread I left on the plate and disappears under the nightstand.

A sudden commotion erupts behind me. Rian bursts into the tent, sword raised, shadows clinging to his broad shoulders like liquid night.

His gaze sweeps the space, sharp and dangerous. “What’s wrong?”

I freeze. His dark eyes—swirling with menace—catch mine, and my knees go weak. I press my palms against the rough edge of the table for balance, but I can’t seem to take a steady breath.

“Elara?” The grip on his sword loosens, but he doesn’t lower the weapon. “What happened?”

The sound of my name on his lips makes heat bloom across my cheeks, but I don’t know why.

My gaze drops to the floor, fingernails digging into the fabric of my skirt, willing my body to obey me. Even as my heart hammers, my shoulders betray a shiver I can’t quite suppress.

“It’s nothing.”

“Then why did you scream?” he presses.

“I saw a rat. Or something similar.” I cringe and squeeze my eyes shut. “I know, it’s stupid. I’m just…really, really not fond of rodents.”

I haven’t been since that night when one of them nestled at the foot of my childhood bed and decided my toes looked like a tasty snack. Juniper paid one of our neighbors handsomely for a cat to come live with us the next day. Socks was a fierce, devoted pet.

A pause.

Then, “Where did it go?”

I pry my eyes open. Rian’s patient stare pins me in place, and I swallow hard before pointing a trembling finger toward the nightstand.

“Under there.”

He crosses the tent. The shadows surrounding him begin to dissipate into clouds of smoke before blinking out of sight. I press my lips together, determined not to cry out if the rodent runs by me again. I’ve embarrassed myself enough.

But my mouth parts in surprise when the tall, muscular Fae drops to his hands and knees to peer beneath the nightstand. The sight is…oddly disarming. A creature of shadows and violence, hunting for a rodent on my behalf. It’s almost, dare I say, kind.

But when his attention flicks to the cot, where my secret tome is tucked away, my chest seizes.

“It ran outside,” I blurt, rushing forward, my voice shaky.

Rian stills, then turns his head toward me from his crouched position. One strong, dark brow lifts. “You saw it?”

My stomach flips.

Knock it off, Elara. Stop noticing how good-looking the evil Fae is while he’s on his knees.

Heat creeps up my neck.

“N-no,” I stammer, crossing my arms like they can shield me from the strange emotions swirling in my body. “But it took my bread. I’m sure he’s off in the forest somewhere, stuffing his belly as we speak.”