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“Rook!” Theron rose to his feet, golden wings spread behind him. “How are you, old friend?”

“Tired.” I did not take my eyes off Elara. Tears began to roll down her face, and as I drew closer I saw the bite marks on her neck. My fingertips cooled as darkness enveloped them.

“Ah that is a shame,” Theron said, fingers steepled before him as he watched my approach. “My darling fiancee and I haven’t had much sleep either, but for very different reasons, I am sure.”

Elara’s chin dropped to her chest, and the yearning to take her in my arms coursed over my skin like a flame. The courtiers tittered with amusement, and I wanted to kill every single person in the room. I clenched my hands into a fist as the fading mark on my arm stung, determined to keep my shadows hidden. I still didn’t fully understand what was happening, and I did not want to reveal anything at this point. Not when, as Regan had promised, escape was so close.

“Now!” Theron clapped once, and the room fell silent. “Lord Caedmon has kindly offered me a gift to celebrate my engagement, so if you would all follow me, we shall go out into the courtyard.”

The courtiers burst into excited chatter, and my eyes scanned the room, looking for Regan. There was no sign of him. Sweat broke out on my upper lip as I followed the others out, two guards flanking me silently. Where the fuck was he? What signal was I waiting for? I felt sick, panic pricking at my lips.

Theron was leading Elara by the hand, and she moved like she was already dead, like her feet were no longer touching the ground. My Bonded was already turning into a ghost.

Not much longer. We’ll be out of here soon. I will save you.

Out in the courtyard, Lord Caedmon and his entourage waited. They all bent into low bows as Theron approached, Caedmon rising with a foul smile on his lips. His eyes moved over Elara, with a hungry look that made me want to smash his teeth out of his skull.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness,” he drawled. “May I offer my congratulations on your forthcoming nuptials. I wish you both many years of happiness and an abundance of blessings from the Gods.”

“Thank you.” Theron kissed the back of Elara’s hands.

Her eyes remained fixed on the ground. “Thank you.” Her voice was hollow. I felt as though a rib had cracked in my own chest.

Not much longer. Not much longer.I gazed again around the courtyard, looking for any sign of Regan. He was still nowhere to be found. My anxiety began to spiral, and Gods I hated that it made Elara look at me. She sensed it, and her eyebrow lifted for the barest of moments before her shoulders drooped again.

Perhaps if the darkness no longer caused me pain…

Theron and Caedmon were engaged in conversation, laughing and joking as though they were old friends and not mortal enemies. They were too engrossed to notice anything but their own words. I tentatively reached out to her, my words traveling the lengths of those silver strands. There was a sting at the back of my eyes, sharp but not unbearable.

Elara.

Her head whipped around to look at me, her lips parted, her eyes wide. Theron began to look up, the sudden movement catching his attention, and her head dropped again, but she could do little to disguise her rapid breathing.

“Are you well, dear one?” Theron asked.

Elara nodded, her eyes fixed on the ground. “It is hot, that is all.”

Theron and Caedmon laughed jovially. “Ah the Fae.” Theron pressed a kiss to Elara’s temple, and she winced. “Such tender creatures.” He released Elara to once again speak animatedly with Caedmon, whose entourage now became involved, gesticulating to the sky as they discussed the fantastic gift they had brought for Theron and his new bride.

Elara’s head tilted ever so slightly, her eyes moving towards me.Rook?

I suppressed a laugh, a sigh of relief, tears, I wasn’t sure which.My love. I missed you so much.

How is this possible?

My mark is fading. I don’t know what is happening.

She lifted her head, and her blue eyes were clearer now as they fixed on me.Can you summon the darkness?

I surreptitiously lifted a hand, a tiny puddle of night welling within it.

Then she smiled. A delighted shooting up of her eyebrows, and a smile. I thought my heart would burst as her joy warmed my chest.

I’m getting you out of here. There is a plan in place.

Her eyes fluttered closed with relief.How? When?

Wait. And when the time comes, you run. Run and don’t stop.