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“All right,” Nigel said. He started off in that direction, taking a firm hold of my hand and trailing me along behind him.
I watched the crowd and waited for my chance. I looked for a large group standing near Liam but behind the demon lady. I’d only have a moment to break Nigel’s grip, grab Liam, and pull him out of sight so we could disappear among the other guests. Perhaps if I could talk to Liam, I might be able to break the spell that woman had over him. I’d have to if we were going to have any chance to come up with an escape plan.
Nigel wove us through the crowded room, taking us past, but out of sight, of Liam. I waited until we’d passed them, then spotted my opportunity. I slipped my hand out of Nigel’s to push away a man—more likely a spirit—who’d reached out to grab at me as we passed. Nigel turned to confront him. While he was distracted, I lunged for Liam. Latching on to Liam’s arm, I hauled him with me into a clump of guests.
“Hey!” he said.
“Shh,” I said, pulling him with me and ducking behind one of the columns. I flattened myself against the stone and positioned him in front of me, wrapping my arms around his neck and forcing him to look down at me and meet my eyes.
He blinked as his pupils slowly began to focus on my face. “Eve,” he said.
Relief flowed through me, and I let out a sigh. “Liam. We don’t have much time.”
“She enchanted me,” I said. My brain was foggy. I shook my head to clear it. The demon woman had not been pleased that I’d killed her hell beasts. Upon arriving to retrieve me from the cell, she’d announced that I’d be her pet for the evening. A Fae enchanted by a demon. I’d never hear the end of this from Arabella if I ever got out of here alive.
“She’s a demon, Liam.” Evelyn’s shocked face stared back at me as my vision cleared.
“I know.” I’d just finished trying to convince Evelyn that spirits existed, and now she was telling me that I’d been enchanted by a demon. Since when did Evelyn know anything about demons?
“So is Nigel,” she said. Things began to make sense again. He must have shown her his horns, the bastard.
I raised my eyebrows. “He told you?”
“You were trying to keep me away from him because you knew what he was, weren’t you?”
I nodded.
“You could have told me.”
“You wouldn’t have believed me.”
“You’re probably right.” She frowned. “He also said that you’re…not human.”
I cringed. Of course he’d told her that.
“We shouldn’t talk about this here.” The last thing I needed was for anyone to find out that Evelyn didn’t know the first thing about the Fae. Edric would discard her immediately if he knew she couldn’t help him. But, if I could keep them from realizing their mistake long enough, I might be able to get her out of here. I looked around, trying to see if anyone was close enough to overhear our conversation.
Evelyn pulled me back behind the pillar. “Don’t,” she said. “He’ll see you.”
“Who?” It wasn’t exactly the most private location for a chat. I conjured a shield to hide us from the other guests and keep those nearby from listening to our conversation. It would screen us from view, making it appear like there was nothing here, and deter wandering guests from stumbling through and discovering us. Anyone who was searching for us and knew to look for magic would find the shield. But it might give us some time and privacy to talk.
“Nigel told me that I had to stay with him, but I needed to talk to you. I couldn’t leave you under that demon’s spell. We need to get out of here.”
I placed my palm on her cheek and let it run down along the side of her neck until it rested on her shoulder. She’d been captured, imprisoned, threatened, held at knifepoint, and shackled to a half-demon escort, and all because I’d let my guard down.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“When were you going to tell me?” she asked.
I shook my head. “I just wanted to keep you safe.”
“Look at where we are, Liam! We’re surrounded by creatures I didn’t even know existed before tonight. And you…you let me think… Why did you sleep with me when you know it’s impossible for us to be together? Were you ever planning to tell me?” She glared at me with her arms crossed.
“No.” I couldn’t lie, even if I wanted to.
“So you were going to just disappear again?” She’d started to shake, but I didn’t sense her fear this time. She was angry, and she had every right to be.
“I told you I wouldn’t, and I meant that. I’ve never lied to you. I can’t lie.”
