Page 132 of Captive of Secrets and Storms

If I’m right, the Shadow Fae know the truth about what I am.

Yet they chose to leave me in the dark.

But why?

What excuse could they possibly have for keeping that from me?

By the time Rian and I reach the hall leading to our guest rooms, my entire body is aflame with fury.

I don’t question when Rian leads me to the door across from mine. He turns the knob and nudges me inside.

The door latch clicks into place behind me.

Then Rian faces me, his expression carefully blank. “Elara⁠—”

“How long?”

His jaw snaps closed. “How long, what?”

“How long have you known I’m part Light Fae?”

He blinks, schooling his face too late as the muscle along his rugged jawline twitches. “What in The Mother’s name are you…”

He trails off as I reach into my satchel and close the distance between us.

Rian takes a single step back but goes no farther when I slam Calla’s journal into his chest.

His long fingers press against the leather cover when I pull away.

His eyes remain locked on mine. “What’s this?”

“A diary.” My hands shake, and I fist them at my sides. “Calla Luminara’s diary.”

His eyes flare at the name.

I knew they would.

He drops his gaze and finally looks at the book. “This is the book you read in the dinghy.”

“Yes.”

He draws it away from his chest and opens the pages gently.

“Where…” He pauses and draws a measured breath, eyes lingering on the pages as though committing them to memory before meeting mine. “Where did you get this?”

Unlike with Anders, I’m honest. “My mother left it for me.”

To this, he doesn’t react.

Blood rushes to my cheeks, my heart hammering in my chest. “You’re not surprised.”

“Not entirely.”

My nostrils flare. “Why?”

He flips through the pages, scanning the Fae princess’s adolescent musings with a raised brow. “Why, what?”

“Why keep the truth from me?”