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“Find Arden,” Jessamine said. “We’ll stall Hadeon as long as we can.”

Arabella was on her feet at once. “Thank you.”

Before she could leave, Jessamine caught her wrist. “Whether you’re human, fae, demon, or all three doesn’t matter.It’s never been about the type of power you have but how you use it.”

While the idea of feeding on anyone went against everything she’d been taught as an enchantress, she allowed those teachings to slip between her fingers. Those beliefs had served her once. It had allowed her to find the strength to protect her people. But she understood now that it was so much more complicated than that.

To protect those she loved, she needed to get more power.

Leaning down, Arabella pressed a kiss to Jessamine’s forehead. “I know that now.”

Then she turned toward the tunnels and ran.

Arabella followedthe tunnels the guards previously led her down. But the mountain was so large that she quickly got turned around. Eventually, she came to the cavern where she'd done most of her training with Arden. Only this time, Arden and his warriors were nowhere to be seen. Instead, shadow fae civilians lingered near the water.

Skidding to a stop, she growled, and her shadows twisted in agitation.

The shadow fae didn’t look up from their work as she tried to steady her breathing. Some filled waterskins and others drew water for laundry. Nearby, there were fae weaving baskets and others preparing food in large pots.

A few of the fae were children—perhaps in their teens. Outside the roundness of their faces and their generally youthful demeanor, the young ones appeared no different than the other shadow fae. They had pointed ears and long limbs, and theshadows danced around their feet as though a bonfire whipped in the wind at their backs.

She wondered how many of them were part demon.

If they possessed the Everdark’s magic, were they born with the power to control the dead? Or was that something that had to be unlocked in them, too? Was only hers locked away because of the magic her mother had used before she’d died?

The idea of asking a greater demon for help—the very same one who’d killed her parents—repulsed her.

Warriors strode into the cavern, and she hurried over to them. “I need to see Prince Arden at once. It’s urgent.”

All the warriors wore masks over their faces and eyed her with disinterest.

The one at the front, a male, said, “He’s hunting with some of the warriors. He’ll be back in a few hours.”

She didn’t have time to wait. Hadeon might be awake by then.

If he found her before she found Arden, he’d use his bargain. Depending on what bargain he called in, she wouldn’t be able to acquire the power of the demons, or she might not be able to bring the shadow fae back through the gateway.

“Where did he leave from?” she asked. “Can you bring me to where he’ll be when he returns?”

Somehow, she knew if she asked the warriors to lead her down into the heart of the mountain where the Everdark dwelled, they’d refuse. It seemed that it was akin to their holy place, and they wouldn’t bring an outsider there alone. But maybe she could catch Arden as he returned, and he could bring her directly to the Everdark.

The guard who’d spoken frowned at her but made no objection as he led her down more tunnels to one that opened at the base of the mountain and the dark mist surrounding it.

To her dismay, no one was there.

“Wait here.” He turned toward the tunnels with the other warriors. “If you leave the mists, the demons will set upon you, and you’ll die.”

She nodded.

Little did they know, a greater demon lived in the heart of this very mountain.

A thought occurred to her. If the Everdark was breeding with some of the females, then the shadow fae most likely knew of his existence.

She didn’t intend to venture into the desert—not yet. If she left the tunnels, there was a chance Hadeon could fly above the mountain and spot her. No, she wouldn’t make it that easy for him. Hopefully, Arden would return soon and bring her to the Everdark. She wasn’t sure that she could find the altar room on her own. And hopefully, Hadeon would be asleep for a good long while. But in case Breckett hadn’t struck him nearly hard enough, she needed to exercise caution.

For a moment, she wondered whether Hadeon would do anything to Jessamine or Breckett when he awoke. He was going to be pissed. And perhaps he was like Arabella—willing to do anything for those he’d sworn to protect.

If he hurts them, I will make him regret the moment he laid eyes upon me.