Page 23

Focus,she chastised herself.Or you won’t make it out of here alive before the ogres come back.

She allowed her mind to roam over the room and felt her feet moving. Reaching out, she touched the places where she felt the vibration. But as she came across each—a quill hidden in a desk, a leather-bound tome in a language she didn’t recognize, a small statue of a pregnant female—none possessed a magic that mirrored her own. None appealed to the shadows.

The map wasn’t there. So, where was it?

Again, she cast her mind out like a net but focused it on the castle. Room by room, she felt along the energies, searching, searching…

“That’s it,” came Hadeon’s voice, though it sounded strangely far away. “Just like that.”

When she came across the room she’d dreaded returning to—the place where she’d stabbed Elias and taken the amplifier—she felt what she sought.

Unlike the purr of the energies of other magical objects throughout the castle, this one was different. A deep hissemanated from it the moment her thoughts touched it. At first, the energy recoiled from her. Then it changed to something akin to a caress. The energy nuzzled into her consciousness, making her thoughts swirl.

“I think I found it,” she said. “It’s in Elias’ room.”

A boom sounded outside the castle. Then there was a splitting sound that felt like the air was being torn in two.

“They broke through the ward,” Jessamine said. “We need to leave.Now.”

Even with Hadeon cutting down ogres before and repairing the ward, it hadn’t been enough. It had barely bought them a few minutes. There were more monsters to replace the ones they’d killed. Just how many creatures did Magnus have in his army?

Jessamine was right. They couldn’t rely on this fae prince to stick around if shit got tough. Not to mention, Arabella had no idea how far his power went and when it would be depleted. All magic wielders grew fatigued the more magic they used. Certainly, Hadeon was powerful, but she doubted he was strong enough to hold an army at bay—even if he was willing.

“No,” Hadeon said, his voice sharp. “Not before we get the map.”

Arabella opened her eyes, allowing them to settle on the fae prince. His gaze was filled with fiery determination.

“If you ever want to see your mother again, it will be with this map,” he said as another boom filled the air.

A second tear in the ward.

Ogres would be pouring in.

“My… mother?” Her brows drew together.

She knew she should feel something at those words. All her life, she’d been an orphaned child without any knowledge of her parentage or where she’d come from. But all she could feel at that moment was the quickening of her heartbeat.

“We have to go,” Jessamine said, her fingers tightening around Arabella’s arm. “There isn’t time.”

“Only the shadow fae can help you control your magic. If you still want to save Elias, that is,” Hadeon said, knowing that he’d sealed their fates with those words.

Knowing she’d stop at nothing to rescue her mate.

Her features settled into one of perfect calm as resolution settled in her chest. “Keep up.”

Then she was running through the castle, moving down corridors as she felt the pounding footsteps of ogres outside the castle. She thought she heard the flapping of great wings.

She raced down hall after hall until she reached Elias’ bedroom door with the enchantresses, Hadeon, and Breckett at her heels.

Below, there was a thumping on the main castle doors. Thank fuck that Brynne had enough forethought to bolt them shut before they went to the library.

As Arabella approached Elias’ bedroom door, she reached for the shadows beneath her. They formed into long, thorned vines around her arms that didn’t pierce her skin this time. Instead, they stretched out, extending past her outreached hand, and lashed at the door. In an instant, they sliced through the wards Elias had put in place. The magic fell at once, and they all strode through.

There was a four-poster bed with curtains as black as Elias’ eyes when he hadn’t fed, which she carefully avoided looking at. She didn’t dare to allow herself to think of what they had shared here—or how he’d admitted his feelings for her—moments before she’d betrayed him.

The hearth was dark and cold, and the late autumn chill hung in the air.

There was a sound of wood splintering several floors below as she cast her consciousness out into the room. Sparks of magicfilled her mind, flickering into existence like stars in the night sky. One after another lit before her mind’s eye—so many that it made her mind spin. There had to be dozens of magical objects here.