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“I’ve been waiting a long time for that,” Magnus purred, tucking his cock back into his pants before pressing a final kiss to Elias’ lips.

Shame welled up within Elias as he stood there, unable to move, to fight, tocleanhimself.

Then Magnus reached into his cloak, removing a blade.

“For your good behavior,” Magnus began. “You have earned some time to rest.”

Something sharp sliced into Elias’ mind.

“You’re to remain in this tent until I return,” Magnus said as he filtered his magic into the syphen. “Do not even consider fleeing, fighting, or using your magic. Self-harm is prohibited.”

Elias grunted as the syphen’s magic descended on him, layering over his mind, his thoughts, until the commands settled in place.

Then his cuffs unlocked.

Unable to hold himself up, Elias fell to the ground. Blood rushed back into his arms, and it felt like needles pricked along every inch of his skin.

But just as he couldn’t bring himself to raise his arms, neither could he bring himself to feel relief as Magnus mussed Elias’ hair before striding from the tent.

Leaving Elias alone with the memory of what they’d just done.

Chapter Nine

ARABELLA

The next morning, Hadeon was already gone when Arabella came down for breakfast, dressed in her leathers and full armor—including the syphen.

Once again, he’d refused to travel by teleportation with Vorkle and, according to Kazimir, wanted to get a head start toward the western tundra.

She shared an awkward breakfast with Jessamine, Breckett, Kazimir, and Waylen in the same sitting room from the day before.

After everyone had eaten quicker than would normally be considered polite, Kazimir stood and said, “The prince has ordered me to remain behind, and Waylen?—”

“Has refused to risk my neck to find fae who are better leftnotfound,” Waylen interrupted. “I’d wish you luck, but… I hope your trip is far from fruitful. For the sake of everyone in the fae realms.”

As the water fae spoke, something akin to anger swirled in Arabella’s chest. “Are all water fae cowards, or just you?”

Waylen laughed, though it held no hint of humor. “I’m not so easily goaded,demi-fae.”

A response was on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed it.

One more fae wasn’t going to make all that much difference against an army of shadow fae or a horde of demons.

Without another word, she turned and strode into the hallway where Vorkle waited.

The carpeted hallway was wide enough for three people to walk side by side comfortably. Like the sitting room, it had large windows with the shutters opened wide to reveal the early morning sunrise blossoming on the horizon. Around the house, there was a garden as well as some trees.

For a moment, she thought she sensed something in those trees.

As though she was being watched.

The sounds of Jessamine and Waylen’s bickering echoed out of the sitting room and drew Arabella’s thoughts back to the present.

“Good to see you again,” she said to Vorkle, whose face was utterly emotionless. “When this is over, I daresay I’ll owe you a drink.”

The goblin’s eyes shifted up to hers, his expression unchanging. “I’m under oath to serve Prince Hadeon and his inner circle in exchange for his protection. This is the consequence ofyouractions, Enchantress.”

By stealing the amplifier to try to protect Shadowbank, she’d put Elias’ castle and its secret occupants at risk. She wouldn’t try to deny the consequence of her actions.