Page 204 of Captive of Secrets and Storms

I push away from him, but I don’t go far. I turn and take in the dim stairwell I hadn’t realized was there.

The opening is so narrow, even Silas, the slenderest of the Shadow Fae, would have trouble fitting through it.

“Where do you think those stairs lead?” I ask.

The oddly placed stairway angles down, not up.

“To concealed passages,” Rian says. “Likely the ones Hali plans to utilize during her grand escape.”

I whirl around, eyes wide.

Rian’s face is smooth, but flecks of blue spark through the silver that continues to swirl in his eyes.

“You…” I swallow the lump in my throat. “You know about Hali’s plan?”

“I do.”

My muscles tense. “How?”

He smirks. “Don’t you remember? My shadows hear everything.”

His voice deepens, and my thoughts are sent back to the Late King’s Festival—to the night Lev revealed his involvement in the human rebellion.

The night Rian stepped out of the shadows after hearing everything.

The night I was abducted by Verdanthian soldiers.

The night my life irrevocably changed forever.

I shove the memories aside with a huff. Then⁠—

“Hali is Jaxon’s sister,” I blurt out, crossing my arms over my chest.

Rian blinks. “And?”

I scowl. “And how can you all just stand by while the leaders of Virendrell are planning to force one of your friend’s sisters to…to…to breed with someone else? A coupling that will be based solely on the strength of their magic?”

“Who said we were standing by?”

“I…” My jaw drops. “You⁠—”

“Just because my cadre and I are not racing headfirst into battle like your foolish lover did does not mean we are not taking action to ensure Hali’s freedom.”

Darkness hovers over his shoulders, flickering in and out of sight like a waning candle.

My heart beats a slow, disbelieving rhythm.

I stare at the manacles on Rian’s wrists, manacles my sister allegedly created by using her unknown Fae Fire.

“How are you able to use your power?” I ask.

Silence answers me.

My gaze snaps up. Rian’s expression is a mask once more.

“I don’t understand you!” I throw my hands in the air. “You say we’re connected. You act as if I should trust you. But you give me absolutely no reason to.”

“No?” Shadows carve over his features. “Are you saying that saving you from living the rest of your life in that shithole town doesn’t warrant some trust?”