Page 200 of Captive of Secrets and Storms

“That is none of your business.”

“Excuse me?” My temper flares in a way it only ever seems to do around this Shadow Fae. “You don’t think a glamoured Shadow Fae infiltrating my town, befriending me and my sister for years, is not my business?”

A cloud of darkness rises off his shoulders. “Anton stumbling upon two untrained part Fae was not part of the plan, if that’s what concerns you.”

Not part of the plan?

The words echo through my skull.

Anton didn’t come to Verdanthia because of me.

Or Ferria.

“Then why was he there?” I ask. “What did he want? Was it the astlerium?”

I can think of no other reason the Shadow Prince would send a spy into my town under the guise of being a Kinless orphan.

A muscle in Rian’s cheek twitches.

“It was!” I yank my hand free of his and point at his face. “You came for astlerium!”

In a blur, Rian recaptures my hand.

“Careful, Elara,” he drawls out in a low, throaty voice. “I enjoy your tenacity, but there are great forces at work, and their importance outweighs your flighty curiosity.”

“Flighty?” I try to tug to free myself from his hold again, but his grip tightens.

“Yes, flighty.” His lips twist into an unamused grin.

He leans close. My breath catches in my throat.

“One minute, you are studious and determined to unravel the secrets of your magic and cure Darius. You even asked me for help.”

My eyes narrow. “Yes, but then you betrayed⁠—”

“And now.” He turns us in a wide circle, moving us to the edge of the dance floor. “After you learn the truth of where that magic comes from…of your birthright…you have not stopped to ask how it affects your future. What being Light Fae means.”

My stomach twists. “It means nothing. It affects nothing.”

I will cure Darius, and then I will find Ferria.

My future lies with her. We will live our lives in freedom.

Being part Light Fae changes nothing.

Rian draws back and levels me with a pitying look that cuts sharper than a scalpel. “I never took you for a fool, but perhaps I was wrong.”

My jaw drops.

Asshole.

I snap my lips closed and growl, “You don’t know anything about me.”

“We both know that’s not true.” Rian leans forward again.

This time, he rests his nose against my temple.

I stiffen as he inhales deeply.